Three English players, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane, along with seven Manchester City players, have earned spots on the 30-player shortlist for the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
Among the 12 Premier League players nominated, City’s Erling Haaland stands out.
Argentina’s legendary Lionel Messi is the strong favorite to secure his eighth Ballon d’Or victory after his World Cup win.
Both midfielder Bellingham and striker Kane made significant transfers this summer, with Bellingham joining Real Madrid and Kane moving to Bayern Munich.
The treble-winning Manchester City squad boasts nominees such as record-breaking goalscorer Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne, Ruben Dias, World Cup champion Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Josko Gvardiol. While Croatia defender Gvardiol wasn’t with City last season, Ilkay Gundogan, now at Barcelona, was, and he also secured a spot on the shortlist.
Other Premier League representatives on the list include Arsenal’s Saka and Martin Odegaard, Liverpool’s forward Mohamed Salah, Manchester United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana, and Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Two players who switched European clubs this summer are on the list: Messi, who moved to Inter Miami from Paris St-Germain, and the current holder, Karim Benzema, who left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad.
Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner now playing for Al-Nassr, was not nominated for the first time since 2003.
Bellingham, who joined Real from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, is among the 10 nominees for the best young player award, the Kopa Trophy, with new Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund also in contention.
Arsenal and England’s Aaron Ramsdale is one of four Premier League goalkeepers on the 10-player shortlist for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world’s best goalkeeper, alongside Onana, Manchester City’s Ederson, and Aston Villa’s Martinez, who is a World Cup winner with Argentina.
