Barca shaded Ballon d'Or with Leo Messi and Aitana Bonmati in line ...

Leo Messi and Aitana Bonmatí aspire to win the Ballon d'Or 2023. Both the Inter Miami player and the FC Barcelona player have had a spectacular year and, on their own merits, have become the favorites to win the highest individual distinctions in world soccer. The ceremony for the 67th edition of the trophy will take place on Monday, October 30 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Leo Messi

The Argentine is a candidate for this year's men's Ballon d'Or for being champion of Ligue 1 with PSG, for winning the Leagues Cup with his new team, Inter Miami, and especially for having won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In the final, the Argentina national team beat France on penalties (4-2) after the 90 minutes and extra time ended with a 3-3 draw. Messi, who was elected the best player of the tournament, was the second highest scorer (7 goals, behind Mbappé, 8), the best assist (3, tied with three other players). Although this competition is from the previous year, it is counted in the current year.

Messi, if all predictions are confirmed, would win his eighth Ballon d'Or. The Argentine had already been crowned in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021. On five occasions he was second (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017) and, on one occasion, third (2007). With this new Ballon d'Or Messi would set a record that is practically impossible to surpass and would surpass the second most decorated player, Cristiano Ronaldo, in three titles. The Portuguese, now in Saudi Arabian soccer, has five awards to his name, the latest coming in 2017.

Aitana Bonamatí

Aitana Bonamatí is, without a doubt, the player who is the most in-form, the one who makes the biggest difference and the one who, on her own merits, aspires to the women's Ballon d'Or. With FC Barcelona, she has won the Spanish Super Cup, La Liga and the Champions League. She decided the Super Cup final against Real Sociedad (3-0) with a brace and was the MVP of the final.

On April 30, she was proclaimed league champion (3-0 against Sporting Huelva) at the Johan Cruyff after Barça had won the first 26 rounds of the league tournament with three points. Aitana finished as the team's second top scorer with 19 goals, second only to Asisat Oshoala (27). Shortly afterwards, on June 3, Jonatan Giráldez's team, led by an in-form Aitana, won the Champions League in Eindhoven, beating Wolfsburg 3-2 after coming from 2-0 down in the second half.

On August 19, Aitana cemented her candidacy for the Ballon d'Or 2023 by winning the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after defeating England in the final (1-0). The Barça player was named the best player (Golden Ball) of the tournament and shortly after the UEFA considered her the Best Player in Europe. This Monday she was honored with the Woman-SPORT award.