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

The 2023 Ballon d’Or winner will be revealed in Paris tonight with Aitana Bonmati favourite for the Feminin award

Messi beats Haaland to Ballon d’Or as Bellingham picks up gong for best young player

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

[30 October 2023 18:54 · Karl Matchett]

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

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)

[30 October 2023 19:00 · Karl Matchett]

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

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

[30 October 2023 19:06 · Karl Matchett]

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

...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 ... ?!

[30 October 2023 19:12 · Karl Matchett]

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

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:

[30 October 2023 19:18 · Karl Matchett]

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

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:

[30 October 2023 19:24 · Karl Matchett]

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

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.

[30 October 2023 19:30 · Karl Matchett]

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

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!

[30 October 2023 19:35 · Karl Matchett]

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

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...

[30 October 2023 19:40 · Karl Matchett]

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

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.”

[30 October 2023 19:42 · Karl Matchett]

Ballon d’Or awards LIVE

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)