Ballon d'Or 2023 Power Rankings: Rashford and Vinicius Junior Enter Top 5 (TABLE)

The competition for the coveted Ballon d'Or award is heating up as the 2022-23 season progresses, and the return of the Champions League has only added to the excitement. While Karim Benzema was the recipient of the 2022 Ballon d'Or, the race for the 2023 award has already begun.

What makes this year's race unique is the fact that the World Cup will be held in the middle of the campaign, meaning that players' performances in the tournament could have a significant impact on their chances of winning the Golden Ball. However, it's worth noting that by the time the votes are cast, the tournament could be a distant memory.

Despite this, some players have already started making their case for the Ballon d'Or ahead of the return of the Champions League. Neymar and Robert Lewandowski, who were early favorites for the award, have both slipped down the power rankings due to injuries and inconsistent performances.

On the other hand, there are some new entrants into the top five of the Ballon d'Or power rankings. Marcus Rashford and Vinicius Junior have been in excellent form, putting in some match-winning performances for their respective clubs. Their performances have caught the attention of fans and experts alike, and they are now being considered as serious contenders for the Golden Ball.

As the season progresses and more matches are played, the race for the Ballon d'Or will only get more intense. With the Champions League knockout stages set to begin soon, players will have ample opportunity to showcase their skills and stake their claim for the coveted award.

Top 20 Ballon d'Or 2023 Power Rankings

As the 2023 Ballon d'Or race heats up, all eyes are on Lionel Messi. Despite a disappointing start to his PSG career, many believed that Messi's chances of winning another Ballon d'Or had diminished due to his age. However, the 35-year-old has turned things around and has been in spectacular form, scoring 12 goals and providing 14 assists in just 19 club games.

To add to his incredible season, Messi also led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, where he was awarded his second Golden Ball after scoring seven times. With such impressive performances, it's no surprise that Messi is now a top contender to win the Ballon d'Or in 2023. However, he will have to continue to perform at his best if he wants to secure the award, especially with other talented players such as Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Kevin De Bruyne also in the running.

Ballon d'Or 2023 Nomination Board:

Source: GOAL

Benzema wins the Golden Ball: Final rankings for Ballon d'Or 2022

After much speculation, it's official: Karim Benzema has won the 2022 Ballon d'Or. The Real Madrid striker was recognized for his outstanding performances for club and country throughout the 2021-22 season, which saw him play a key role in Madrid's victories in both the Champions League and La Liga. In addition, Benzema also helped France win the Nations League trophy in October 2021.

Despite being just one of 30 nominees for the award, Benzema managed to come out on top

The final rankings have been revealed by France Football, with other top players making the list. Notably, six-time winner Lionel Messi and his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar did not make the cut. Nonetheless, the list is still filled with some of the biggest and most talented players in the world of football.

Here are the 20 players who were nominated for the Ballon d'Or 2022, along with their notable achievements:

• Harry Kane - Tottenham: Despite a slow start to the season, Kane's play-making ability proved crucial to Tottenham, helping them secure a place in the Champions League.
• Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United: Despite a disappointing season for Manchester United, Ronaldo managed to score 24 goals in all competitions and become the all-time top scorer in men's international football.
• Casemiro - Manchester United: Under the radar, Casemiro played a key role in Real Madrid's domestic-European double triumph in his final season at Santiago Bernabeu.
• Luis Diaz - Liverpool: Despite only joining Liverpool in January, Diaz proved to be a game-changer for the Reds with important goals and assists during their quest for an unprecedented quadruple.
• Dusan Vlahovic - Juventus: Vlahovic's impressive performances for Fiorentina during the first half of the season earned him a big-money move to Juventus, where he showed signs of becoming their next superstar striker.
• Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool: After returning from injury, Van Dijk proved himself as the world's premier centre-back, helping Liverpool have a memorable campaign.
• Fabinho - Liverpool: A calming presence in Liverpool's midfield, Fabinho also contributed with crucial goals, including in the Champions League semi-final against Villarreal.
• Rafael Leao - AC Milan: Named Serie A MVP of the Season, Leao earned comparisons to Thierry Henry in the Italian press after helping AC Milan win their first Scudetto in 11 years.
• Sebastien Haller - Borussia Dortmund: Haller was a revelation in the 2021-22 season, breaking goal-scoring records in the Champions League and firing Ajax to the Eredivisie title before joining Dortmund.
• Riyad Mahrez - Manchester City: As City's top scorer in all competitions, Mahrez played a key role for Pep Guardiola's side, bouncing back from Africa Cup of Nations embarrassment with Algeria.
• Son Heung-min - Tottenham: Joint-top scorer in the Premier League, Son helped Tottenham secure a place in the Champions League under Antonio Conte.
• Erling Haaland - Manchester City: Despite injuries, Haaland managed an impressive goal-a-game record in the Bundesliga before joining Manchester City over the summer.
• Luka Modric - Real Madrid: The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner put in virtuoso performances last season, helping Real Madrid triumph domestically and on the continent at the age of 36.
• Vinicius Junior - Real Madrid: In a breakout season, Vinicius impressed with goals and assists, saving his most important goal for the Champions League final.
• Thibaut Courtois - Real Madrid: A Man-of-the-Match-winning display in the Champions League final and the Yachine Trophy as the world's best goalkeeper capped off a superb season for Courtois.
• Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain: Stepping up where Lionel Messi and Neymar struggled, Mbappe claimed trophies at both club and international level in 2021-22 as the only member of PSG's much-heralded front three to make the shortlist.
• Mohamed Salah - Liverpool: Arguably the best player in the world through the first half of the season, Salah remained key for Liverpool during the run-in despite disappointment on the international stage with Egypt.
• Robert Lewandowski - Barcelona: Despite enjoying another 50-goal season, Lewandowski was unable to claim his first Ballon d'Or in his final campaign at Bayern MunichKevin
• De Bruyne - Manchester City: De Bruyne started the season off slowly, but he exploded during the run-in, scoring crucial goals in both the Premier League and Champions League for City. He proved to be an integral part of their success.
• Sadio Mane - Bayern Munich: Mane's slow start to the season did not hinder his performances for Liverpool, especially after he helped guide Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations glory in January. He was back to his best and provided plenty of memorable moments for Reds supporters.
• Karim Benzema - Real Madrid: Benzema had a truly remarkable season, scoring over 40 goals for club and country while also providing a series of assists. He picked up winners' medals in the Champions League, La Liga, and UEFA Nations League, cementing his place as one of the best strikers in the world.