The Ballon d’Or winner for 2023, reportedly Lionel Messi, is set to be crowned on October 30, 2023, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France. This marks Messi’s record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or win.
France Football magazine, which annually awards the Ballon d’Or to the world’s best footballer, has revealed the criteria used to select the 2023 winner:
1- Individual Performance, Crucial Actions, and On-Field Behavior: The jury will assess who had superior individual performance during the 2022/2023 season. Erling Haaland’s impressive 52 goals in 53 appearances give him an edge in terms of individual performance, while Messi scored 20 goals in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Ranked at the 8th place for the 2023 Men's Ballon d'Or!@victorosimhen9@sscnapoli@NGSuperEagles#ballondor pic.twitter.com/3wt1DoCSta
— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
2- Vital Role in the Team and Honors: The winner’s impact on their team and the titles they secured will be considered. Messi’s World Cup victory is a significant factor in his favor, and he was involved in every goal his team scored in the knockout stage. He also won Ligue 1 and the French Cup. On the other hand, Haaland led Manchester City to a treble, including their first-ever Champions League title. The assessment of a “vital role” is at the discretion of the jury.
3- Fair-Play and Classy On-Field Conduct: Players are expected to maintain fair play and exhibit good sportsmanship on the field. Both Messi and Haaland have near-perfect disciplinary records and did not receive red cards during the evaluation period. However, Messi was involved in a heated exchange with Louis Van Gaal during the World Cup quarterfinals and reportedly insulted Wout Weghorst.
The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in football, and Lionel Messi’s eighth win underscores his exceptional greatness. His victory in 2023 was particularly impressive given the tough competition from Erling Haaland. The change in Ballon d’Or criteria could potentially influence future outcomes, but Messi’s status as the world’s best footballer remains evident.