Ballon d’Or 2023 shortlist revealed: Will Lionel Messi get number eight?

Can the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi add number eight to his name? Or will Manchester City's goal machine Erling Haaland win the most prestigious individual football award for the first time?

The Argentina captain led his country to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and on the club level, he won the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, Haaland secured a historic treble with Manchester City, scoring 52 goals across all competitions in his debut season for the club.

With Argentina’s World Cup triumph and Manchester City’s Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup titles, it's no surprise that the award shortlist is dominated by players from Argentina and Manchester City.