Ballon d’Or Awards LIVE: Latest updates as Lionel Messi crowned and Aitana Bonmati wins Feminin award

Lionel Messi is celebrating after being named Ballon d’Or winner for the eighth time, extending his own record for being named the planet’s best player.

Now with Inter Miami in MLS, the 36-year-old had been seen as overwhelming favourite to claim another golden prize following Argentina’s World Cup win in Qatar at the end of last year.

Aitana Bonmati succeeded Alexia Putellas as winner of the women’s award, the Ballon d’Or Feminin. The midfielder starred for Spain during the Women’s World Cup win, as well as playing a key part in Barcelona’s incredible 2022/23 season which included a Champions League final comeback win. Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and others also picked up awards on the night.

Follow along for the latest reaction from the Ballon d’Or awards in Paris with our liveblog below:

Ballon d’Or Awards

• Early list reveals Mohamed Salah 11th, Harry Kane in 19th

• Jude Bellingham wins Kopa Trophy

• Vinicius Jr succeeeds Sadio Mane as winner of Socrates award

• Barcelona win Club of the Year award for FCB Femeni’s triumphs in 22/23

• Man City win Club of the Year for men’s game after treble triumph

• Emi Martinez wins Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper

• Erling Haaland wins Gerd Muller award for most goals

• Aitana Bonmati wins Ballon d’Or Feminin 2023

• Lionel Messi wins his eighth Ballon d’Or, extending his own record

Messi wins eighth Ballon d’Or as Bonmati and Bellingham pick up awards

Monday 30 October 2023 21:50 , Karl Matchett

Lionel Messi is celebrating after being named Ballon d’Or winner for the eighth time, extending his own record for being named the planet’s best player.

Now with Inter Miami in MLS, the 36-year-old had been seen as overwhelming favourite to claim another golden prize following Argentina’s World Cup win in Qatar at the end of last year.

Aitana Bonmati succeeded Alexia Putellas as winner of the women’s award, the Ballon d’Or Feminin. The midfielder starred for Spain during the Women’s World Cup win, as well as playing a key part in Barcelona’s incredible 2022/23 season which included a Champions League final comeback win.

England did have one representative picking up an award, as Jude Bellingham picked up the first trophy of the night - the Kopa Trophy, handed out to the best young player on the planet. Previous winners include Kylian Mbappe in 2018, the inaugral year, and Barcelona’s Gavi last time out.

Full report and award winners:

Messi wins record eighth Ballon d’Or as Bonmati and Bellingham also pick up awards

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 22:20 , Karl Matchett

Here’s a great look at the award winners of the night: Messi, Bonmati, Haaland, Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, plus Barcelona’s team award.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 21:46 , Karl Matchett

Messi is of course an Inter Miami player now - one of the owners being David Beckham, who just gave him the prize.

“To say he’s a Miami player and is in our city is a special thing. Like he’s said, he’ll celebrate with teammates and with his amazing family and back in Argentina,” Beckham says.

“He’ll do his best to celebrate it his own way and we’ll do our best to celebrate it in a Miami way!”

Messi gets his three sons up on stage to join in the celebrations! Nice touch.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 21:43 , Karl Matchett

Messi continues to speak after winning his latest award:

“I never imagined to have the career I’ve had. I’ve had a lot of luck to achieve everything I have, I’ve played for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It makes it easier to win titles and individual prizes. To win the Copa America and then the World Cup after all the difficult moments with the national team, it was incredible to get it done.”

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 21:35 , Karl Matchett

Messi offers his thanks to the teammates he has been with, congratulations to the other nominees and explains how proud he is to have landed an incredible eighth Ballon d’Or.

“The players here change but the level never goes down,” Messi says about his many, many years up on that stage.

“To win the World Cup was a dream, it was really special that people from other nations wanted Argentina to win.”

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 21:32 , Karl Matchett

David Beckham is on stage to award the Ballon d’Or for the men.

Messi, Mbappe, Haaland in the running. And the winner is:

Lionel Messi! AGAIN!

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 21:25 , Karl Matchett

Onto the men’s award we go. Benzema won last year but was only 16th this time around.

Lionel Messi has been the overwhelming favourite since the moment he lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar, but is there a surprise in the works?

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 21:14 , Karl Matchett

Mary Earps fifth, Chelsea’s Sam Kerr finished as runner-up. Tenth and 11th for Lionesses too, with Rachel Daly and Millie Bright in those positions respectively.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 21:09 , Karl Matchett

Bonmati speaks after receiving her prize:

“I’m very proud to receive the award tonight, it has been a unique year. This is an individual prize but football is a team sport so I would like to extend this to all my teammates at Barcelona and Spain. I wouldn’t have the success without them.”

Joan Laporta is given special note by Bonmati for the support offered to the women’s team, while the Spain star has congratulations for the other nominees.

“Keep living by example and keep fighting for a more peaceful and equal world,” she adds in English.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE - Aitana Bonmati wins Ballon d’Or Feminin

Monday 30 October 2023 21:06 , Karl Matchett

Novak Djokovic is on stage to do the presentation for the Ballon d’Or Feminin and the final four. The tennis maestro reveals he’s a Red Star Belgrade fan...as well as AC Milan. A bit of tennis chatter and he reveals he wants to claim Olympic gold in Paris next year as a big career goal he has left.

Onto the award.

Bonmati, Kerr, Paralluelo and Rolfo are the final four...

Aitana Bonmati wins women’s Ballon d’Or!

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 21:00 , Karl Matchett

And continuing the same way, the next three for the men. Two from Man City in this group.

7th Alvarez, Argentina

6th Vinicius Jr, Brazil

5th Rodri, Spain

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:57 , Karl Matchett

On we go with the next rankings for the big awards and another Lioness in the reveal - goalkeeper Mary Earps takes fifth.

7th Popp, Germany

6th Carmona, Spain

5th Earps, England

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:52 , Karl Matchett

Manchester City are given the nod as Club of the Year in the men’s game, somewhat unsurprisingly. They won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Seven Ballon d’Or nominees are here tonight so they are all up on stage along with some club suits to receive the award.

“We are very proud, we enjoyed a really good season. But we all know this is not the product of one season, it’s more than a decade of hard work,” said Ferran Soriano.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:49 , Karl Matchett

Haaland is asked his thoughts on the noble art of plundering goals and leaving defences downhearted.

“If I’m giving advice it’s to stay hungry, especially as a striker. Be ready and be in the moment, stay sharp and want to score, want to have this feeling as I had quite a few times last season. It’s as easy as that - chase this feeling!”

Lineker gives his assessment on the massive Norwegian:

“His movement is so good, his anticipation. Goalscoring is like mathematics. It’s formula not instinct: make runs into space where you think you can score if the ball goes there. It’s the law of probability and he does it better than anyone else at the moment.”

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:42 , Karl Matchett

Gerd Muller trophy next..no prizes for guessing who top scored for club and country!

Lewandowski in fifth with 36 goals. Messi fourth hit 38. Kane managed 40 to take third.

Mbappe scored a whopping 54, he’s second.

Erling Haaland with a thoroughly ridiculous 56 goals!

“Thanks to Man City for making myself every single day, the staff and Pep. I always want to thank my family and people around me for making me who I am today,” he said. We now get to watch every single one of those strikes in a video montage.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:38 , Karl Matchett

Gary Lineker is on stage now to present the Gerd Muller award, the one handed to the year’s biggest goal machine.

“Football has evolved a lot. I personally think it’s better and better, the competition is better and there are so many incredible players who are a credit to the game. I’m proud of young players speaking up about important issues. The game on the field is in good shape,” our Match of the Day face says.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:35 , Karl Matchett

“French people still think about every day - was it the save of your life?” Drogba asks the stopper. He does begin to respond but boos interrupt him - Drogba has to silence a few in the crowd jeering while Martinez is talking, saying sporting respect must be shown.

That gets a few bits of applause. Honestly, it’s not Uefa you know!

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:31 , Karl Matchett

Time for the best goalkeeper to step forward and claim their award. And not drop it, obviously.

Ederson, Bounou, Martinez, Courtois or Ter Stegen?

Drogba announces Martinez as the winner! A few cheers as he takes to the stage. Alberto Martinez comes on stage too, Emi’s father, to hand over the award.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:27 , Karl Matchett

A full run-down of the Feminin nominees from 30 through to the top ten...well, we know to eighth already so here you go.

• 8 Guijarro, Spain

• 9 Caicedo, Colombia

• 10 Daly, England

• 11 Bright, England

• 12 Miyazawa, Japan

• 13 Oberdorf, Germany

• 14 Diani, France

• 15 Ilestedt, Sweden

• 16 Leon, Spain

• 17 Raso, Australia

• 18 Pajor, Poland

• 19 Reiten, Norway

• 20 Oshoala, Nigeria

• 21 Redondo, Spain

• 22 McCabe, Ireland

• 23 Stanway, England

• 24 Shaw, Jamaica

• 25 Smith, USA

• 26 Renard, France

• 27 Hasegawa, Japan

• 28 Debinha, Brazil

• 29 Roord, Netherlands

• 30 Van Domselaar, Netherland

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:19 , Karl Matchett

Club president Joan Laporta recieves the award for Club of the Year, for the achievements of the women’s team across 2022/23.

FCB Femeni won the Liga F in Spain, the Supercopa de Espana and the Champions League. In league play they lost only once across 30 matches, winning a wild 28 of them.

It’s their Champions League final comeback which stands out though, 2-0 down after 37 minutes to Wolfsburg before before roaring back to win 3-2.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:16 , Karl Matchett

On we go with the listing in the Ballon d’Or Feminin, the first three inside the top ten being named...including one of the Lionesses.

10th: Rachel Daly - England

9th: Linda Caicedo - Colombia

8th: Patricia Guijarro - Spain

And for the men, the same:

10th: Luka Modric - Croatia

9th: Bernardo Silva - Portugal

8th: Victor Osimhen - Nigeria

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:09 , Karl Matchett

The full Kopa Trophy list and Bellingham’s words on receiving the trophy.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 20:08 , Karl Matchett

Luka Modrid comes in at No.10! We’re heading along at a clip. Good stuff. Straight into the Socrates award now.

This was only brought in last year, with Sadio Mane the winner for his humanitarian work.

Prince Albert II of Monaco is here to present the award and he hands it over to Vinicius Jr!

The Real Madrid man was appointed head of Fifa’s anti-racism player committee earlier this year. He has also been involved with work with underprivileged youngsters in his home nation.

Didier Drogba offers Vini Jr the opportunity to send a “strong message” on racism to the football world.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE - Jude Bellingham wins Kopa Trophy

Monday 30 October 2023 20:01 , Karl Matchett

Didier Drogba and journalist Sandy Heribert are on stage and we’re straight on with it with the first award, the Kopa Trophy.

And it goes to Jude Bellingham! That was fast. He has enjoyed a brilliant start with Real Madrid but this award is for last season, his work with Dortmund and England at the World Cup. Jamal Musiala finishes runner-up!

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:56 , Karl Matchett

So what else do we get for our money tonight? Not just the Ballon d’Or and Feminin, but also the Kopa and Yashin trophies we’ve mentioned previously. PLUS! The following three:

• Gerd Muller Trophy, for the striker to score the most goals for club and country

• Socrates Award, which recognises humanitarian work

• Club of the year award

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:53 , Karl Matchett

L’Equipe are showing the clips of the 11th to 15th players now - Emi Martinez’s highlights reel from the World Cup was pretty special, particularly that final save from Randal Kolo Muani. So many sliding doors moments in that match!

And yet he’s not the top ranked goalkeeper, with Yassine Bounou, of Morocco and Sevilla last season, pipping him in 13th.

A few Lewandowski goals, some Gundogan assists and then Mohamed Salah’s trickery, finishing and celebrations.

That’s your handful on the cusp of the top ten - soon we’ll be into the chosen few for the main event.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:48 , Karl Matchett

All three English players revealed there have had great starts to 2023/24 season too, in three different leagues now of course: Kane in Germany, Bellingham in Spain and Saka remaining in the Premier League.

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:45 , Karl Matchett

We’re about 15 minutes from the ceremony due to be starting, with Didier Drogba the master presenter this evening.

Mbappe is in the house...so too the trophy itself. Would he be a cert to be lifting it if he had been on the winning team in the World Cup final ten months ago?

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:42 , Karl Matchett

Interestingly, the Ballon d’Or nominees have just been released in the order they finished...up to the top ten of course!

Here are the finishers 11th to 30th in the men’s award:

• 11. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)

• 12. Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Barcelona)

• 13. Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Sevilla/Al-Hilal)

• 14. Ilkay Gundogan (Germany, Manchester City/Barcelona)

• 15. Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)

• 16. Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid/Al-Ittihad)

• 17. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Napoli)

• 18. Jude Bellingham (England, Borussia Dortmund/Real Madrid)

• 19. Harry Kane (England, Tottenham/Bayern Munich)

• 20. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter Milan)

• 21. Antoine Griezmann (France, Atletico Madrid)

• 22. Min-jae Kim (South Korea, Napoli/Bayern Munich)

• 23. Andre Onana (Cameroon, Inter Milan/Manchester United)

• 24. Bukayo Saka (England, Arsenal)

• 25. Josko Gvardiol (Croatia, Leipzig/Manchester City)

• 26. Jamal Musiala (Germany, Bayern Munich)

• 27. Nicolo Barella (Italy, Inter Milan)

• 28. Martin Odegaard (Norway, Arsenal)

• 28. Randal Kolo Muani (France, Eintracht Frankfurt/Paris St-Germain)

• 30. Ruben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City)

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:40 , Karl Matchett

Ederson, Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Erling Haaland all make their entrances, the Man City contingent stopping to take a few photos on the way and salute the waiting fans. Briefly, at least.

Haaland is grabbed for a quick word as he waltzes through and gives his customary brief, obvious and understated responses.

“I slept really well, I played really good yesterday. I think it’s every footballer’s dream to win so yeah. All the guys here deserve it.”

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:35 , Karl Matchett

The stars are arriving! Here’s the favourite for the men’s award tonight, Leo Messi with family alongside him.

Will he be celebrating title No.8 tonight? Well, let’s not spoil it too early...

What is the difference between the Ballon d’Or and The Best Fifa Awards?

Monday 30 October 2023 19:30 , Karl Matchett

Just in case you were wondering what the main differences are between the two showpiece awards, here’s a quick explainer for you from back in February - when “The Best” awards were being given out - which details how they came about, who gives each one and how the voting systems work.

Tonight is very much Ballon d’Or night!

What is the difference between the Ballon d’Or and The Best Fifa Awards?

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:24 , Karl Matchett

It’s not all about the Ballon d’Or award for Lionel Messi - the big new signing of Inter Miami CF is a finalist for Major League Soccer's newcomer of the year too.

The league announced those up for its year-end awards Thursday with the winners being named throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs.

It is no surprise that Messi, Argentina's great who joined Inter Miami this summer, would be up for the honor. The global great has created a sensation since coming to play in the United States' top soccer league. He has posted 11 goals and eight assists since joining Miami for the MLS Leagues Cup competition in July.

Lionel Messi is a finalist for the MLS Newcomer of the Year award

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:18 , Karl Matchett

Georgia Stanway says it is frustrating the Ballon d’Or ceremony taking place on the eve of a round of women’s international games was not “planned a little bit better”.

The England and Bayern Munich midfielder is among the nominees but will not be at Monday evening’s ceremony in Paris as she prepares for the Lionesses’ match against Belgium in Leuven, part of a busy schedule of Nations League fixtures on Tuesday.

Stanway, whose international team-mates Mary Earps, Millie Bright and Rachel Daly have also been shortlisted for the prestigious awards, told a press conference regarding her nomination: “It’s very cool, and nice to get the accolade as well as a lot of the team-mates in the Lionesses.

“There’s a few people I would also add to the list who have had very, very successful years. It’s a real achievement to be amongst those names.

“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t be there. That’s something we spoke as a player group (about), and we just kind of said it would be nice in the future if it wasn’t on a matchday minus one, so that we could enjoy the experience. It is (frustrating), because it’s potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You never know if you’re ever going to get selected for such an accolade like that again, so it would be really nice to enjoy the experience and be there and feel like a star amongst the stars.”

More here:

Georgia Stanway disappointed to miss ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ Ballon d’Or ceremony

Lionel Messi is no longer the best in the world but he still deserves one last Ballon d’Or

Monday 30 October 2023 19:12 , Karl Matchett

For the eighth and probably last time, Lionel Messi will win the Ballon d’Or tonight. Messi will beat competition from Manchester City’s treble-winners, an inevitable result after he inspired Argentina to their first World Cup since Diego Maradona did the same in 1986. The betting has stopped, and the only mystery left at the Paris ceremony is to guess the fabric of his suit.

Messi’s journey can be told in football and in fashion choices. He collected his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 wearing a basic black suit and tie, looking like a boy at the school prom, and with each passing year his attire became more bold: the bow tie and tux in 2010, the velvet sheen in 2011 and the garish polka dots in 2012 symbolising the blooming confidence of a young man who could do no wrong, who could take a hideous suit like a bad pass and turn it into something great, or at least slightly less hideous, by dint of his own brilliance.

Things got a little out of hand in 2013 when he wore a full red ensemble, an outfit which, in hindsight, didn’t deserve to win. Messi was beaten by Cristiano Ronaldo two years in a row, and when he finally resumed his throne in 2015, he did so back in a classic black tuxedo. In 2019, Messi’s simple grey tie was a suitably sombre look to end his four-year winless drought, before the shimmering sparkles of 2021 which lit him up like a galaxy as he claimed No 7.

Lawrence Ostlere takes a look at Messi’s magic - and his wardrobe - as the Ballon d’Or awards approach:

Lionel Messi is no longer the best in the world but he deserves one last Ballon d’Or

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:06 , Karl Matchett

...and the ‘modern’ era, also known as the Cristiano and Messi era. It’s fairly routine and repetitive, as far as being continually the greatest (as voted by those who do, at least) goes.

2008 Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

2009 Lionel Messi, Argentina

2010 Lionel Messi, Argentina

2011 Lionel Messi, Argentina

2012 Lionel Messi, Argentina

2013 Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

2014 Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

2015 Lionel Messi, Argentina

2016 Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

2017 Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

2018 Luka Modric, Croatia

2019 Lionel Messi, Argentina

2020 Not Awarded, Covid

2021 Lionel Messi, Argentina

2022 Karim Benzema, France

2023 ... ?!

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 19:00 , Karl Matchett

How about a trek through history and the previous winners of the Ballon d’Or?

All the way back to 1990 we go! Let’s face it, not much point starting 2008 or any later as there aren’t too many names on it from that point...!

• 1990 Lothar Matthaus, Germany

• 1991 Jean Pierre Papin, France

• 1992 Marco van Basten, Netherlands

• 1993 Roberto Baggio, Italy

• 1994 Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgaria

• 1995 George Weah, Liberia

• 1996 Matthias Sammer, Germany

• 1997 Ronaldo, Brazil

• 1998 Zinedine Zidane, France

• 1999 Rivaldo, Brazil

• 2000 Luis Figo, Portugal

• 2001 Michael Owen, England

• 2002 Ronaldo, Brazil

• 2003 Pavel Nedved, Czech Republic

• 2004 Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine

• 2005 Ronaldinho, Brazil

• 2006 Fabio Cannavaro, Italy

• 2007 Kaka, Brazil

Ballon d’Or shortlist: Who are the nominees for 2023 award tonight?

Monday 30 October 2023 18:54 , Karl Matchett

Ballon d’Or 2023: Who is nominated for the Kopa Trophy?

• Xavi (RB Leipzig / PSV Eindhoven)

• Jamal Musiala (FC Bayern)

• Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund / Real Madrid)

• Alejandro Balde (FC Barcelona)

• Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)

• Gavi (FC Barcelona)

• Rasmus Höjlund (Atalanta / Manchester United)

• Pedri (FC Barcelona)

• Antonio Silva (Benfica)

• Elye Wahi (HSC Montpellier / RC Lens)

Ballon d’Or shortlist: Who are the nominees for 2023 award tonight?

Monday 30 October 2023 18:48 , Karl Matchett

Ballon d’Or 2023: Who is shortlisted for the Yashin Trophy?

• Brice Samba (Lens)

• Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb and Fenerbahce)

• Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

• Andre Onana (Inter Milan and Manchester United)

• Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)

• Ederson (Manchester City)

• Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Barcelona)

• Mike Maignan (AC Milan)

• Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

• Yassine Bounou (Sevilla and Al-Hilal)

Ballon d’Or shortlist: Who are the nominees for 2023 award tonight?

Monday 30 October 2023 18:42 , Karl Matchett

Ballon d’Or Féminin 2023: Who is nominated for the women’s award?

• Daphne Van Domselaar (Twente and Aston Villa)

• Lena Oberdorf (Vfl Wolfsburg)

• Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai)

• Millie Bright (Chelsea)

• Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)

• Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)

• Hayley Raso (Manchester City and Real Madrid)

• Amanda Ilestedt (Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal)

• Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)

• Olga Carmona (Real Madrid)

• Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)

• Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)

• Alba Redondo (Levante)

• Lina Caicedo (Real Madrid)

• Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais)

• Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)

• Ewa Pajor (Vfl Wolfsburg)

• Guro Reiten (Chelsea)

• Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

• Debinha (North Carlina Courage and Kansas City Current)

• Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)

• Alexandra Popp (Vfl Wolfsburg)

• Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)

• Jill Roord (Vfl Wolfsburg and Manchester City)

• Katie McCabe (Arsenal)

• Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyonnais)

• Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)

• Mary Earps (Manchester United)

• Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw (Manchester City)

• Mapi Leon (Barcelona)

Ballon d’Or shortlist: Who are the nominees for 2023 award tonight?

Monday 30 October 2023 18:36 , Karl Matchett

Ballon d’Or 2023: Who is nominated for the men’s award?

• Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig and Manchester City)

• Andre Onana (Inter Milan and Manchester United)

• Karim Benzema (Real Madrid and Al-Ittihad)

• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

• Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)

• Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

• Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt and Paris Saint-Germain)

• Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid)

• Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

• Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)

• Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)

• Ruben Dias (Manchester City)

• Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)

• Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

• Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

• Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City and Barcelona)

• Yassine Bounou (Sevilla and Al-Hilal)

• Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)

• Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)

• Rodrigo (Manchester City)

• Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami)

• Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)

• Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)

• Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)

• Kim Min-jae (Napoli and Bayern Munich)

• Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

• Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-German)

• Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

• Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich)

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 18:30 , Karl Matchett

A reminder that tonight’s not just about these two major awards for the men’s and women’s game.

We’ll also see the Yashin trophy handed out for the top goalkeeper of the year, and the Kopa trophy for the best youngster around.

The current holders of those two are Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Barcelona’s Gavi respectively.

Previous winners of the Yashin are Alisson Becker and Gianluigi Donnaruma.

And the earliest Kopa winners were Kylian Mbappe, Matthijs de Ligt and Pedri.

Ballon d’Or odds list

Monday 30 October 2023 18:20 , Karl Matchett

Not much to split the favourites...only kidding. Leo Messi is far and away the favourite to win after triumphing at the World Cup. Odds from gambling.com:

• Messi 1/9

• Haaland 9/2

• Vini Jr 50/1

• De Bruyne 50/1

• Rodri 50/1

And for the Feminin winner, Aitana Bonmati is a similarly overwhelming favourite:

• Bonmati 1/5

• Carmona 8/1

• Earps 10/1

• Kerr 16/1

Lionel Messi is no longer the best in the world but he still deserves one last Ballon d’Or

Monday 30 October 2023 18:10 , Karl Matchett

For the eighth and probably last time, Lionel Messi will win the Ballon d’Or tonight. Messi will beat competition from Manchester City’s treble-winners, an inevitable result after he inspired Argentina to their first World Cup since Diego Maradona did the same in 1986. The betting has stopped, and the only mystery left at the Paris ceremony is to guess the fabric of his suit.

Messi’s journey can be told in football and in fashion choices. He collected his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 wearing a basic black suit and tie, looking like a boy at the school prom, and with each passing year his attire became more bold: the bow tie and tux in 2010, the velvet sheen in 2011 and the garish polka dots in 2012 symbolising the blooming confidence of a young man who could do no wrong, who could take a hideous suit like a bad pass and turn it into something great, or at least slightly less hideous, by dint of his own brilliance.

Things got a little out of hand in 2013 when he wore a full red ensemble, an outfit which, in hindsight, didn’t deserve to win. Messi was beaten by Cristiano Ronaldo two years in a row, and when he finally resumed his throne in 2015, he did so back in a classic black tuxedo. In 2019, Messi’s simple grey tie was a suitably sombre look to end his four-year winless drought, before the shimmering sparkles of 2021 which lit him up like a galaxy as he claimed No 7.

Lawrence Ostlere takes a look at Messi’s magic - and his wardrobe - as the Ballon d’Or awards approach:

Lionel Messi is no longer the best in the world but he deserves one last Ballon d’Or

Georgia Stanway disappointed to miss ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ Ballon d’Or ceremony

Monday 30 October 2023 18:05 , Karl Matchett

Georgia Stanway says it is frustrating the Ballon d’Or ceremony taking place on the eve of a round of women’s international games was not “planned a little bit better”.

The England and Bayern Munich midfielder is among the nominees but will not be at Monday evening’s ceremony in Paris as she prepares for the Lionesses’ match against Belgium in Leuven, part of a busy schedule of Nations League fixtures on Tuesday.

Stanway, whose international team-mates Mary Earps, Millie Bright and Rachel Daly have also been shortlisted for the prestigious awards, told a press conference regarding her nomination: “It’s very cool, and nice to get the accolade as well as a lot of the team-mates in the Lionesses.

“There’s a few people I would also add to the list who have had very, very successful years. It’s a real achievement to be amongst those names.

“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t be there. That’s something we spoke as a player group (about), and we just kind of said it would be nice in the future if it wasn’t on a matchday minus one, so that we could enjoy the experience. It is (frustrating), because it’s potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Georgia Stanway disappointed to miss ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ Ballon d’Or ceremony

What time is the Ballon d’Or tonight?

Monday 30 October 2023 16:31 , Karl Matchett

The Ballon d’Or awards ceremony takes place tonight when football’s most prestigious individual prize is presented to the most worthy recipient. The Ballon d’Or and Ballon d’Or Féminin are annual awards presented by French news magazine France Football and have been running since 1956.

Karim Benzema, who led Real Madrid to the Champions League, LaLiga, Uefa Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup titles, lifted the Ballon d’Or trophy last year while Alexia Putellas won the women’s award for a second consecutive year.

Lionel Messi is the most decorated Ballon d’Or winner with seven triumphs to his name and is the big favourite to be awarded the trophy again this year after his heroics in helping Argentina win the World Cup. Messi faces competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and PSG’s Kylian Mbappe.

Aitana Bonmati is the favourite to succeed Putellas for the Ballon d’Or Feminin after leading Spain to the Women’s World Cup and Barcelona to the Women’s Champions League. Bonmati was named player of the tournament in both the World Cup and Champions League, while Chelsea and Australia star Sam Kerr could place highly.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the ceremony:

What time is the Ballon d’Or tonight?

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

Monday 30 October 2023 21:57 , Karl Matchett

Plenty of platitudes and words of praise for the worthy winners - and all those who were runners and riders along the way too.

No doubt the goals and trophies of Haaland might have landed him the award in another year, but let’s face it when Messi was champion of the world, he was getting that eighth one, wasn’t he?