• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Fans are only just realising what Ballon d'Or means ahead of 2023 awards ceremony

Home> Football> Football News

Published 15:29 30 Oct 2023 GMT

Fans are only just realising what Ballon d'Or means ahead of 2023 awards ceremony

The Ballon d’Or will be given out on Monday night

Marcus Chan

Marcus Chan

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Ballon d'Or, Liverpool, Lionel Messi, Football

Marcus Chan
Marcus Chan

Advert

Advert

Advert

Fans are only just realising what Ballon d’Or means ahead of this year’s ceremony.

On Monday night in Paris, France, the Ballon d’Or will be handed out for the 67th time.

Last year, the prestigious trophy was given to Frenchman Karim Benzema after a stellar season with Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid.

Advert

This year, it is expected that Argentina legend Lionel Messi will pick up his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or trophy.

Ahead of the ceremony, fans are only just realising the meaning of Ballon d’Or.

The words ‘Ballon d’Or’ are French and when translated to English, it reads ‘Golden Ball’.

Advert

Heading into the ceremony, France's football legend Thierry Henry has explained why Messi deserves to win the award after a wonderful year that included winning the World Cup in Qatar.

He said to CBS Sports: “I mean a lot of people can debate that but for me if you win the World Cup, the way he did it, we can talk about what happened in the final.

“As a Frenchman, I was a little bit disappointed with how it finished but you can’t say that it isn’t deserved if he wins it.”

Image
Getty

Advert

The former Arsenal forward said: “A lot of people can claim that Man City players, Haaland and some other players can also say ‘why not me?’ but you can’t say that it’s not right if he wins it.

“You have the history at times where I’m thinking about Lewandowski, they decided to say there will not be a Ballon d’Or but there was football. Why was the guy not allowed to win his Ballon d’Or?”

Fellow pundit Jamie Carragher asked Henry: “Who do you think deserves to win it?”

Henry replied: “For me, Messi. Bye. Over.”

Advert

SPORTbible are on WhatsApp! We've launched a dedicated news channel to send you the latest news, features and plenty more directly on WhatsApp and all you need to do to sign up is click through to our one-way broadcast channel here for 'SPORTbible News' to appear in the 'Updates' tab on your WhatsApp.

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Jack Grealish tipped to complete shock transfer nobody predicted that'll 'get him back in the England team'

    The Manchester City winger was omitted from the Club World Cup squad amid links with several other Premier League sides.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Wrexham smash transfer record for third summer signing as 'deal agreed' for Serie A star out of nowhere

    The Championship team are set to welcome a highly rated winger in a reported club-record deal for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Chelsea brutally put nine names on transfer list after Club World Cup win including player who featured in final

    Chelsea have reportedly made nine players available for transfer after their sensational Club World Cup success.

    Football
  • 10 hours ago

    Liverpool have secret weapon in Alexander Isak transfer pursuit that could help seal stunning £120m deal

    The Premier League champions have 'made an approach' for the Newcastle United forward and could boast a huge advantage.

    Football
  • Lamine Yamal tipped to win Ballon d'Or as Lionel Messi told he could be stripped of his proudest record
  • Every player Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo voted for in FIFA Best and Ballon d'Or awards since 2010
  • Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid set to 'skip Ballon d'Or awards' as huge twist emerges just hours before ceremony
  • Every player Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo voted for in FIFA Best and Ballon d'Or awards since 2010