The candidate list is up!
Who will win the Ballon d’Or?
Almost two months before the presentation of the most prestigious footballer’s award on October 30 in Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet, the French newspaper “France Football” published the shortlist for the world footballer’s choice.
After Saudi offer Klopp wanted a Bayern star as a replacement for Salah
Last year, Saudi new signing Karim Benzema prevailed over ex-Bayern star Sadio Mané, Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski. 24 years after France legend Zinedine Zidane, a French footballer had won the Ballon d’Or and scored 15 goals in the Champions League alone.
There are four Germans on the list this year. Bayern star Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gündogan can hope for the world football title for men. For women, Alexandra Popp and Lena Oberdorf from VfL Wolfsburg make it onto the list.
Ballon d’Or slap for Ronaldo!
To do this, however, they have to assert themselves against numerous top footballers. But one is not there: Cristiano Ronaldo!
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is not nominated for the award for the first time since 2004. After moving to Saudi Arabia, the superstar was no longer considered. A slap in the face for the Portuguese.
The candidates at a glance
1. Julian Alvarez (23/Manchester City)
2. Nicolò Barella (26/Inter Milan)
3. Jude Bellingham (20/Borussia Dortmund/now Real Madrid)
4. Karim Benzema (35/Real Madrid/now Al-Ittihad)
5. Yassine Bonou (32/FC Sevilla/now Al-Hilal)
6. Kevin De Bruyne (32/Manchester City)
7. Ruben Dias (26/Manchester City)
8. Antoine Griezmann (32/Atlético Madrid)
9. Ilkay Gundogan (32/Manchester City/ now FC Barcelona)
10. Josko Gvardiol (21/RB Leipzig/now Manchester City)
11. Erling Haaland (23/Manchester City)
12. Harry Kane (30/Tottenham Hotspur/now Bayern Munich)
13. Randal Kolo Muani (24/Eintracht Frankfurt/now PSG)
14. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (22/SSC Napoli)
15. Robert Lewandowski (35/ FC Barcelona)
16. Emiliano Martinez (31/Aston Villa)
17. Lautaro Martinez (26/Inter Milan)
18. Kylian Mbappe (24/PSG)
19. Lionel Messi (36/PSG/now Inter Miami)
20. Min-jae Kim (26/SSC Napoli/now FC Bayern)
21. Luka Modric (37/Real Madrid)
22. Jamal Musiala (20/FC Bayern)
23. Martin Odegaard (24/Arsenal)
24. André Onana (27/Inter Milan/now Manchester United)
25. Victor Osimhen (24/SSC Napoli)
26. Rodri (27/Manchester City)
27. Bukayo Saka (22/Arsenal)
28. Mohamed Salah (31/Liverpool)
29. Bernardo Silva (29/Manchester City)
30. Vinicius Junior (23/Real Madrid)
Women
With Lena Oberdorf (21/VfL Wolfsburg) and attacker Alexandra Popp (32/VfL Wolfsburg), two German internationals are on the shortlist for the women.
Besides them, another 28 top footballers are nominated (see link below).