The Ballon d’Or is Meaningless in 2023
Or at least, it doesn’t mean what you think it does.
Since the 1950s, French football’s pre-eminent award has sparked debate about who is the greatest player in the world. Who has transcended what we thought possible and truly stood out from the footballing elite to claim a solo award in a team sport.
It’s a notoriously difficult thing to decide. How do you determine who has had the best individual season among a sport played in teams of 11 players with all slightly different roles.
A full back’s role will look completely different from a striker’s or an attacking midfielder’s. Or you have players who play hybrid roles like we saw with Manchester City’s John Stones this year.
Pep Guardiola essentially created a new position for Stones as the center-back would drop into midfield on the attack and sometimes occupy deep positions in the opposition’s half.
As far as season performances go, John Stones was basically perfect. And yet, we all know John Stones won’t win the Ballon d’Or in 2023. So, if perfection doesn’t win you football’s highest individual accolade, what does?
The Ballon d’Or as a Symbol
The Ballon d’Or is more a symbol of a player’s influence, popularity, and how the footballing world views him rather than an award given on pure merit alone.
Many of us probably remember how Robert Lewandowski was snubbed in 2021 after breaking Gerd Muller’s record. The following Ballon d’Or was awarded to Lionel Messi, and though probably deserved for that individual season, it left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths.
Messi had already won 6 of the trophies by the time the 2022 vote came and many felt it was time for another to share the spotlight.
It cannot be overlooked the importance of performing well in European competitions. Kevin de Bruyne has been in contention for the Ballon d’Or many years in the running, but until recently never had a European championship to his name.
The likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Modric, and Benzema have been all-stars in the Champion’s League (UCL) for over a decade. As an unabashedly Euro-centric award, the Ballon d’Or will always favor players who make great impacts in the UCL.
So, in this sense, the Ballon d’Or is less an award of strict individual brilliance, and more a trophy highlighting a player’s impact on the grandest stage. European football remains the most competitive in the world and attracts the most views every year.
And most years, the Ballon d’Or is a reflection of this.
The 2023 Golden Ball
So, after all this, who are the main shouts for the 2023 Ballon d’Or? There are a few main contenders, but most agree that Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland are the frontrunners.
Messi for his incredible recent success with the Argentina National Team, leading the Albiceleste to a Copa America, Finalissima, and of course a historic World Cup. At 36, the Argentine shows no signs of slowing down, rather he seems to be getting better with age.
On the other end of the spectrum lies Erling Haaland, the young, hungry Nordic juggernaut that helped lead Manchester City to a treble earlier this month.
Haaland arrived in England with a chip on his shoulder and wasted no time in awing spectators with his tremendous goal-scoring prowess. He beat Alan Shearer’s and Andy Cole’s season-high 34-goal record in only 33 games.
Haaland also added his name to a very exclusive list of players to score more than 50 goals in all competitions in an English season. The 22-year-old is a football phenom and has the world at his feet.
No one could have expected him to shatter such records in his first season in the hardest league in the world. But will he win the Ballon d’Or?
Only time will tell. But no matter who wins it, it’s important to remember that the award is a subjective recognition of footballing brilliance. There will always be other world-class players who have a shout at being the world’s greatest player.
What’s important is we can recognize greatness as it’s happening.
And make no mistake, there is history in the making.
