A group of the world’s most talented athletes will gather in Paris on Monday to discover who will be crowned the winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or, presented to the best player of the year. The Ballon d’Or is bestowed by French Football magazine and recognizes the top male and female players in the game, as well as several other accolades. The Kopa Trophy will be given to the best player under 21, the Yashin Trophy will honor the top goalkeeper, and the Gerd Muller Trophy will celebrate the best strikers. Additionally, there will be awards for the club of the year and the Socrates Award for humanitarian work.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for this exciting event!
Here is everything you need to know before tuning in:
– Date: Monday, Oct. 30
– Time: 2 p.m. ET
– Location: Theatre du Chatelet – Paris, France
– Live stream: Paramount+
The nominees for the prestigious Ballon d’Or include legendary player Lionel Messi, who has won the award an impressive seven times. Messi is nominated again this year after leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup last December. The reigning 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, Karim Benzema, is also among the contenders. Other nominees include key players from Argentina’s World Cup-winning team and members of the French team who finished as runners-up, including the talented Kylian Mbappe.
The nominees for the Ballon d’Or Feminin, awarded to the best female player, feature four players from Spain’s victorious Women’s World Cup team, including the golden boot winner Aitana Bonmati. The lone representative from the U.S. women’s national team is Sophia Smith.
Given that these awards often recognize players who excelled in major international tournaments, Lionel Messi is widely considered the frontrunner for the men’s award. He played a pivotal role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph, which could give him the edge. Similarly, Aitana Bonmati, who shone brightly for Spain during their World Cup victory, is a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or Feminin.
In addition to these prestigious awards, several other accolades will be handed out, including the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player, and the Yashin Trophy for the top goalkeeper. So make sure to stay tuned and witness the crowning of the finest players in the world of football.