When was Ballon d or 2023 announced?

The 2023 Ballon d’Or will be the 67th annual ceremony of the Ballon d’Or, presented by France Football magazine, recognising the best footballers in the world in the 2022–23 season. For the second time in the history of the award, it will be given based on the results of the season instead of the calendar year, with the season starting on 1 August 2022 and ending 31 July 2023. The nominees were announced on 6 September 2023 and the ceremony will take place on 30 October. Alongside the men’s award, the Ballon d’Or Féminin, the Kopa Trophy, the Yashin Trophy, the Socrates Award, the Gerd Müller Trophy and a Club of the Year award will be presented.

There are some formidable contenders for football’s most prestigious prize, the Ballon d’Or, after a year to remember in the men’s and women’s games.

Since Karim Benzema scooped the prize in 2022, we have seen Argentina lift the World Cup in Qatar, Spain triumph in the Women’s World Cup and Manchester City clinch a first Champions League title as part of a historic Treble.

The protagonists behind those triumphs – Lionel Messi, Aitana Bonmati and Erling Haaland, to name a few – are sure to be among the contenders when the Ballon d’Or is delivered later this year.

Messi is the hot favourite to win a record-extending eighth prize after inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in December.

The 36-year-old scored seven goals, including two in the final, and won the Golden Ball after a series of mesmerising displays.

Barcelona and Spain star Bonmati is hotly tipped to win the award that her compatriot and team-mate Alexia Putellas claimed in the last two years.

With Putellas spending most of the last year out injured, Bonmati has risen to the fore by winning the Golden Ball as Spain clinched their first-ever World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand.

Sam Kerr scored 29 goals for Chelsea last season as they won a domestic double before featuring for the Matildas at their home World Cup, while Georgia Stanway could be in the frame after her efforts in England’s run to the final and clinching the title with Bayern Munich.

Messi, Haaland head Ballon d’Or nominations

Haaland’s extraordinary debut season with Manchester City, when he scored 52 goals in all competitions to fire Pep Guardiola’s side to the Treble, makes him a strong contender.TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media