The 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony honoured the best footballers playing in Europe across the 2022/23 season.
In the men’s main award, Lionel Messi went head-to-head with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe. As he now plays for MLS side Inter Miami, Messi is unlikely to win the award again unless he returns to European football.
In the women’s award, Alexia Putellas’ reign had to come to an end as injury meant her involvement last season for club and country was limited. Her Barcelona teammate, Aitana Bonmati, was the favourite to win after starring for Barca and Spain.
There were also trophies to hand out for the best Under-21 men’s player, the best men’s goalkeeper, the most prolific striker, and prizes honouring the best club sides in the continent.
The Sporting News runs through who emerged victorious at the 2023 Ballon d’Or gala at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, across not just the most coveted prize, but the other awards given out that evening as well.
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