The young Arsenal player Bukayo Saka revealed his confusion about the Ballon d’Or rankings, especially after coming in behind goalkeeper Andre Onana of Manchester United. Saka finished in 24th place in the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings, one place ahead of Onana in 23rd, and Martin Odegaard, the captain of Arsenal, in 28th place. Unexpectedly, Aaron Ramsdale, the goalkeeper for Arsenal, outperformed the other three and took eighth place in the Yashin Trophy list, which honors the finest goalkeepers in the world.
Saka and Odegaard were both nominated for the first time for the coveted Ballon d’Or trophy, which has been a football icon since its creation in 1956. This acknowledgment was a result of their outstanding efforts in leading Arsenal’s 2022–2023 Premier League title challenge. During the same season, Aaron Ramsdale also received his first-ever Yashin Trophy shortlist, demonstrating his exceptional goalkeeping abilities.
The journalists who cover the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings cast their ballots to determine who will win the Ballon d’Or. It is noteworthy that the legendary football player Lionel Messi has obtained the highest place in the Ballon d’Or rankings for the seventh consecutive year. His first World Cup triumph from the previous winter helped him win even more. Erling Haaland followed Messi in the standings, taking the second spot, and Kylian Mbappe settled for third.
Emiliano Martinez, a former goalkeeper for Arsenal, was awarded the Yashin Trophy separately for his crucial contribution to Argentina’s victory in their third world cup. This accomplishment was obtained at the World Cup final in Qatar, where England defeated France in an exciting penalty shootout. For the Yashin Trophy, Ederson took second place, and Yassin Bounou finished third.
Regarding the women’s Ballon d’Or division, Amanda Ilestedt placed 15th, followed by Katie McCabe in 22nd place. Their outstanding on-field abilities and accomplishments to women’s football are reflected in these rankings.
