The Ballon d’Or award is football’s ultimate individual prize and the most coveted for any individual footballer, with that in mind, check out the latest top-ten power rankings list for the month of March, 2023
French news magazine France Football awards the Ballon d’Or award each year to the best performing footballer of the season.
Ballon d’Or 2023 top 10 latest power rankings list and favorites in March
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Ballon d'Or 2023 Power Rankings:
1. Lionel Messi (PSG) 🇦🇷
2. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) 🇳🇴
3. Kylian Mbappe (PSG)🇫🇷
4. Victor Osimhen (Napoli) 🇳🇬
5. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) 🇧🇷
6. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli) 🇬🇪— Jurex0077 (@Jurex0077) March 20, 2023
Only five players have 10+ goals and 10+ assists in Europe's top five leagues this season:
Lionel Messi
▪️ 13G
▪️ 13ANeymar
▪️ 13G
▪️ 11AKhvicha Kvaratskhelia
▪️ 12G
▪️ 10ABukayo Saka
▪️ 12G
▪️ 10ARandal Kolo Muani
▪️ 11G
▪️ 10A pic.twitter.com/vXOp9lZhez— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 19, 2023
Votes from various media representatives, national team captains, and coaches all contribute towards deciding the Ballon d’Or award winner.
For the most parts of the 2000s, football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d’Or, having won it 12 times between themselves.
France and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or last year following an incredible season. This year again, the race for the Ballon d’Or is already heating up again with several top contenders.
Ballon d’Or top-ten power rankings list for March 2023
Given below is the top-ten Ballon d’Or power rankings list for March 2023:
10. Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
England international Jude Bellingham had an impressive outing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Bellingham has also been playing a crucial role in Borussia Dortmund’s rise to the top of the Bundesliga table. This season, the young central midfielder has so far scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 34 games across all club competitions.
9. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Bukayo Saka is currently one of the most exciting young talents in fiery form. His performances this season especially have quickly established him as one of the Premier League’s best wingers. The youngster’s fine form has played a crucial role in Arsenal’s title charge this season and will continue to do so in the upcoming games. This season, Saka has scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal.
8. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Although Real Madrid are in a tough spot and will likely miss out on winning the La Liga title this season, Vinicius Junior has showed nothing but promise. In fact, he is still a worthy contender for the Player of the Season award.
Vinicius has shown his true pace and dribbling skills this season proving a menace for many defenders. This season, he has played for Real Madrid 41 games and has scored 19 goals and provided 11 assists.
7. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
Robert Lewandowski is well past his prime years, but the two-time consecutive European Golden Shoe winner is still one of the best footballers out there. Following a move to his new club Barcelona, Lewandowski’s goalscoring form have played a central role in Barca’s title run this season.
So far this season, the Polish striker ahs played 33 games across all competitions for the Catalans. The 34-year-old has scored 25 goals and provided six assists in those 33 games.
6. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Marcus Rashford has undoubtedly been one of the most in-form players at the moment ever since the World Cup restart. Rashford’s consistent performances and goalscoring form has helped his side win their first silverware in several years.
The ongoing season is Rashford’s best season so far in terms of his goalscoring stats. In 44 games across all competitions, the 25-year-old has scored already 27 goals and provided nine assists this season. Although a Premier League win looks unlikely, United are still well placed two cup competitions, the FA Cup and the Europa League. Any of those cup wins will give Rashford a boost in his fight for the Ballon d’Or award.
5. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia started out as a relatively lesser-known player this season but has ultimately become one of the biggest stars. The Georgia international has impressed fans worldwide with his goalscoring and playmaking abilities.
Napoli currently top the Serie A with dominance and also look to have a deep run in the Champions League. This season, Kvaratskhelia has scored 14 goals and bagged 16 assists in 30 appearances across all competitions for Napoli.
4. Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Another in-form Napoli forward aside from Kvaratskhelia is Nigeria international Victor Osimhen. Osimhen has been a threat to defenders this season with his pace, sharp movement, and excellent finishing. So far this season for the Partenopei, Osimhen has scored 25 goals and bagged five assists in 29 appearances across all competitions.
3. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
Kylian Mbappe is the recently appointed French national team captain who has had quite an exciting 2022-23 season. The 24-year-old has been in excellent form this season in front of the goal for PSG. In just 33 appearances across all competitions this season, he has scored 31 goals and bagged eight assists.
However, his side got knocked out of the Champions League, which means that Mbappe will likely finish the season without any major silverware aside from the Ligue 1 title. This means that despite, his prolific form, his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or this year are low without any other silverware.
2. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Erling Haaland has been nothing short of phenomenal in front of goal for Manchester City this season. The Norwegian striker tore into the Premier League with his thunderous goals and even scored a whopping six hat-tricks in all competitions for Man City this season.
Haaland is currently a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or award this year. He has so far made 37 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City this season. And in those 37 games, Haaland has scored a whopping 42 goals and five assists.
1. Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi is undoubtedly one of the favorites to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or award this season after a striking World Cup performance. The Argentine international finally won his first World Cup with Argentina and also won the Golden Ball at the tournament.
However, his chances of winning the award are not clear-cut following PSG’s Round of 16 exit from the Champions League. Messi still has impressive numbers for PSG this season. The 35-year-old has made 32 appearances across all competitions for PSG this season. In those 32 games, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 18 goals and provided 17 assists.