The prestigious annual event is coming up this evening and the winners of the men’s and women’s prizes will be revealed at a special ceremony - alongside a host of other awards.
City have seven representatives in the men’s category, with three players shortlisted for the women’s trophy.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the ceremony.
WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND TO THE BALLON D’OR?
The Ballon d’Or, one of the most prestigious individual prizes in world football, has been awarded every year since 1956.
Sir Stanley Matthews was the inaugural winner, beating Alfredo Di Stefano to the award.
Since then, the list of winners reads like a who’s who of the game’s greatest-ever players.
Lionel Messi has won the most awards, with seven - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021. Cristiano Ronaldo is second with five - 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017.
Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985), Johan Cruyff (1971, 1973, 1974) and Marco van Basten (1988, 1989, 1992) all have three while there’s a host of stars with two victories including former City boss Kevin Keegan (1978, 1979).
Ex City striker George Weah, meanwhile, won it in 1995.
WHEN AND WHERE IS IT HELD?
The Ballon d’Or 2023 ceremony will be held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris tonight.
This is when the winners of the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or 2023 will be announced, alongside several other awards detailed below.
WHICH CITY PLAYERS HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE MEN’S AWARD?
There are a total of seven City men’s players nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, Rodrigo and Bernardo Silva form part of the 30-player shortlist for the award, considered the most prestigious individual prize in world football.
Ederson has once again been nominated for the Yashin Trophy after another impressive spell in between the sticks.
Former City captain Ilkay Gundogan has also been nominated following his major contributions to our Treble-winning campaign.
The full Ballon d’Or shortlist is:
Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig and Manchester City)
Andre Onana (Inter Milan and Manchester United)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid and Al-Ittihad)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt and Paris Saint-Germain)
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid)
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City and Barcelona)
Yassine Bounou (Sevilla and Al-Hilal)
Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Rodrigo (Manchester City)
Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami)
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
Kim Min-jae (Napoli and Bayern Munich)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-German)
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich)
The full Yashin Trophy shortlist is:
Brice Samba (Lens)
Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb and Fenerbahce)
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Andre Onana (Inter Milan and Manchester United)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Ederson (Manchester City)
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Barcelona)
Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Yassine Bounou (Sevilla and Al-Hilal)
Three of Gareth Taylor’s stars have been named on the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist.
Yui Hasegawa, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Jill Roord have been included on a 30-player shortlist for the award.
Former City player Hayley Raso has also been nominated following her contributions to our Barclays Women’s Super League third-place finish.
The full Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist is:
Daphne Van Domselaar (Twente and Aston Villa)
Lena Oberdorf (Vfl Wolfsburg)
Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai)
Millie Bright (Chelsea)
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
Hayley Raso (Manchester City and Real Madrid)
Amanda Ilestedt (Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal)
Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
Olga Carmona (Real Madrid)
Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)
Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)
Alba Redondo (Levante)
Lina Caicedo (Real Madrid)
Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais)
Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
Ewa Pajor (Vfl Wolfsburg)
Guro Reiten (Chelsea)
Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
Debinha (North Carlina Courage and Kansas City Current)
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
Alexandra Popp (Vfl Wolfsburg)
Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
Jill Roord (Vfl Wolfsburg and Manchester City)
Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyonnais)
Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)
Mary Earps (Manchester United)
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw (Manchester City)
Mapi Leon (Barcelona)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PRIZES ON THE NIGHT?
Alongside the men’s and women’s main awards, there will also be the presentations of the Kopa Trophy, the Yashin Trophy, the Socrates Award, the Gerd Muller Trophy and Men’s Club of the Year.
The Kopa Trophy is handed out to the best Under-21 player while the Yashin Trophy, which Ederson is up for, is presented to the best performing goalkeeper.
The Socrates Award is for humanitarian work by a footballer while the Gerd Muller Trophy is for the best striker of the past year for club and country.
Club of the Year, which City won last time out, will also be presented on the evening.
CAN I FOLLOW THE BALLON D’OR ON HERE?
Yes. We will have a special Matchday Live show throughout the prestigious event.
This is UK audience only.
Hosted by Natalie Pike, our show starts at 19:15 (UK) and will detail the awards taking place at the Theatre du Chatelet, Paris.
Steph Houghton, Shaun Goater and Nedum Onuoha will be special guests on the broadcast, providing City-centric reactions and their expert insight throughout the evening.
What’s more, viewers will also be able to send in questions and comments for the panel to discuss between each category.
Stay close to mancity.com and our official app too, for written and video recaps and reaction from the ceremony.
Good luck to each of our nominees!
