Why Mbappe deserves to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or award

Kylian Mbappe

The 2023 Ballon d’Or, the 67th edition, will take place on October 30 at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris in France.

The prestigious individual annual award is presented by the popular French publication, France Football magazine.

For the second time in the history of the award, it will be given based on the results of the season instead of the calendar year, with the season starting on August 1, 2022, and ending on July 31, 2023.

The nominees were announced on September 6, 2023, with some heavyweights in the running for the award.

Among those nominated for the award are Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, current holder Karim Benzema, Bukayo Saka, Vinicius Junior, and Antoine Griezmann.

Also nominated are Kevin De Bruyne, Julian Alvarez, Ilkay Gundogan, Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski, Mohamed Salah, Rodri, Luka Modrić, amongst others.

Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates after he scored a goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Nantes at The Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on March 4, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Not a few believe that the 2023 Ballon d’Or award should be a straight battle between the seven-time winner of the award Messi and Treble winner Haaland.

While Messi’s highlight for the season in review is the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he led Argentina to a third title, Haaland played a key role in helping Manchester City win the treble, becoming the second English club, after Manchester United in 1999, to achieve the feat.

But there is a certain Mbappe who cannot be overlooked and, in fact, named the recipient of the 2023 Ballon d’Or, judging by what he did for both club and country.

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