The nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or awards will be announced on Wednesday, with 30 male and 20 female players set to make the shortlist.
The annual prize, given to the best footballer of the year, is widely considered the most prestigious in the sport.
On Thursday, 30 nominees for the men’s Ballon d’Or and 20 nominees for the Ballon d’Or Feminin will be revealed.
There will also be a 10-man list of nominees for the Yashin and Kopa trophies, awarded to the best goalkeeper and best Under-21 player respectively.
Argentina and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has won the main award a record seven times and is again a strong favourite to take the trophy this year.
Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in December, his country’s first triumph since the Diego Maradona-inspired 1986 title.
The 36-year-old, who left Paris Saint-Germain this summer to join MLS side Inter Miami, was named player of the tournament in Qatar after scoring seven goals including two in the final against France.
Messi is one of just four players to have won the award in the last 15 years, along with five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, 2018 winner Luka Modric and last year’s winner Karim Benzema.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is also one of the frontrunners after firing Manchester City to a historic Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League Treble.
