The PSG superstar (35) has finally conquered with his country the supreme title which was missing from his illustrious record and he seems best placed to obtain the favors of the jury, made up of coaches, national team captains and journalists, a panel supplemented by a public vote on the internet.
If successful, Messi would receive this distinction for the 3rd time after 2009 and 2019 and would succeed Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, victorious in 2020 and 2021.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or will face two Frenchmen, his Parisian teammate Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema.
The first, top scorer in the 2022 World Cup with 8 goals, left his mark on the World Cup final with a hat-trick that entered into legend despite the defeat conceded on penalties against the Albiceleste (3-3 ap, 4-2 tabs).
Benzema, for his part, was the great architect of the 14th Champions League gleaned by Real Madrid, the 5th of his career, which earned him the Ballon d'Or.
The World could be the justice of the peace of the evening, organized Salle Pleyel, and allow the Argentinian coach Lionel Scaloni to leave with the prize for the best coach, but the competition is likely to be tough with the Italian Carlo Ancelotti, who raised the C1 with Real.
The Spaniard Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) is the third technician named.
The star of the French team Kylian Mbappé has just sounded the alarm clock for the Blues against Argentina in the World Cup final in Doha, December 18, 2022 © Odd ANDERSEN / AFP/Archives
The double for Putellas?
Emiliano Martinez's decisive saves in the World Cup final penalty shoot-out make the Argentine a possible goalkeeper winner but the Aston Villa man could suffer from his obscene celebration at the outcome of the match, when receiving his trophy for best goalkeeper of the tournament, and his numerous provocations, in particular with regard to Mbappé, during the festivities in Argentina on the return of the selection.
He will have a lot to do with the Belgian Thibaut Courtois, who made multiple stops in the Champions League final with Real Madrid, and Yassine Bounou, one of the heroes of Morocco, the first African country to reach the semi-finals of a World.
Among the women, the Spanish Alexia Putellas, defending champion and Ballon d'Or 2022, can achieve the double but the FC Barcelona midfielder must be wary of Beth Mead, European champion last summer with the England, the American Alex Morgan appearing behind.
FC Barcelona striker Alexia Putellas already winner of the Ballon d'Or, October 17, 2022 in Paris © FRANCK FIFE / AFP / Archives
As for the coaches, the French Sonia Bompastor, who won the Women's Champions League with Lyon, Pia Sundhage, coach of Brazil, and Sarina Wiegman, coach of England, are the three finalists.
The prize for the best goalkeeper will be played between the German Ann-Katrin Berger, the English Mary Earps and the Chilean Christiane Endler.
Finally, Dimitri Payet, author in 2022 with OM of a splendid recovery of more than 25m in the top corner against PAOK Salonika in the Europa League, will be in the running for the Puskas prize for the most beautiful goal with the Brazilian Richarlison and the Polish amputee footballer Marcin Oleksy.
© 2023 AFP