Full list of 2023 men’s Ballon d’Or nominees

Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland lead the 30-player shortlist

France Football has released its 30-player shortlist for the men’s Ballon d’Or award.

Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland lead the list, with the Inter Miami and Man City stars considered the two top contenders for the award.

Messi is looking to win the Ballon d’Or for a record eighth time after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022. Haaland, meanwhile, is aiming for his first Ballon d’Or after scoring 52 goals in 53 games last season as City took home a treble.

Karim Benzema, who won the award last year, was named to the shortlist again after making an offseason move to Saudi club Al Ittihad.

Below is the list of 30 nominees for the men’s Ballon d’Or. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on October 30.