BALLON D’OR 2023: Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland And Kylian Mbappe Head The Men's Shortlist, Aitana Bonmati Leads Race For Women's Prize.

The Nominations for the Ballon d’Or award were released on Wednesday with several top players making the list.

Lionel Messi is the favourite to win a record eighth title, after captaining Argentina to World Cup glory last year in Qatar.

But the former PSG forward who joined Inter Miami for free in the summer, will have to fight off competition from treble-winning Manchester City's striker Erling Haaland, and also his former teammate Kylian Mbappe.

Haaland scored 52 goals for Man City in his debut season, helping Pep Guardiola's side win a historic treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, while 2018 French World Cup winner, Mbappe scored a hat-trick at the 2022 World Cup final and, despite ending up on the losing side, dragged France to within an inch of defending their title.

Karim Benzema is the current holder after captaining Real Madrid to the Champions League title in 2022, and he also make the shortlist this year, despite making a move to join Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad.

There is no space for five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who endured an indifferent spell with Man United before moving to Saudi side Al-Nassr in January.

England trio Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka are also on the shortlist.

On the other hand, Spain's Aitana Bonmati is nominated for the Ballon d'Or Feminin after leading Spain to World Cup glory in August and winning the Golden Ball in the process.

Bonmati looks the favourite for the prize, but goes up against England's Milie Bright, Georgia Stanway, Rachel Daly and Mary Earps.

England finished runners-up to Spain at the World Cup.

Sam Kerr, who took third place in 2021 and 2022, missed out on a nomination despite her 29 goals helping Chelsea to a domestic double in 2023. Alexia Putellas, winner in 2021 and 2022, also misses out after spending most of the year on the sidelines with injury.

Bonmati could, however, make it three winners for Spain in as many years should she win the gong.

MEN'S BALLON D'OR 2023 NOMINEES

• Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)
• Andre Onana (Manchester United)
• Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad)
• Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
• Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
• Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint Germain)
• Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
• Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
• Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
• Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
• Nicola Barella (Inter Milan)
• Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
• Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal)
• Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
• Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
• Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona)
• Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
• Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
• Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
• Lautaro Martinez (Inter MIlan)
• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
• Rodri (Barcelona)
• Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint German)
• Kim Min-Jae (Bayern Munich)
• Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
• Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
• Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

WOMEN'S BALLON D'OR FEMININ 2023 NOMINEES

• Alba Redondo (Levante Union Deportiva)
• Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon)
• Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)
• Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid)
• Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)
• Olga Carmona (Real Madrid)
• Amanda Ilestedt (Arsenal)
• Hayley Raso (Real Madrid)
• Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
• Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
• Hinata Miyazawa (Manchester United)
• Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
• Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg)
• Millie Bright (Chelsea)
• Daphne van Domselaar (Aston Villa)
• Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
• Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
• Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg)
• Debinha (Kansas City)
• Guro Reiten (Chelsea)
• Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
• Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
• Jill Roord (Manchester City)
• Alexandria Popp (Wolfsburg)
• Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
• Mary Earps (Manchester United)
• Wendie Renard (Lyon)
• Mapi Leon (Barcelona)
• Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)
• Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)