BALLON D’OR 2023 – FREE LIVE STREAM AND UPDATES WITH LIONEL MESSI AND AITANA BONMATI FAVOURITES FOR TOP AWARDS

 BALLON D’OR 2023

Welcome to our live updates from the Ballon d’Or 2023 awards ceremony, where Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati are the red-hot favourites for the respective lead prizes. TNT Sports is showing the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony from 18:00 UK time, so check back in this article for the free live stream and updates of all the newsworthy moments as many of the sport's biggest names assemble.

Lionel Messi

Image credit: Getty Images

Watch the 2023 Ballon d’Or with the ceremony live streamed for free right here on TNTsports.co.uk from 18:00 UK time. You can also watch the ceremony live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+

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1415 – STANWAY REVEALS DISAPPOINTMENT AT MISSING AWARDS

BALLON D’OR

HOW TO WATCH THE BALLON D’OR 2023 - FREE LIVE STREAM DETAILS AND TV CHANNEL, START TIME

YESTERDAY AT 09:53

Georgia Stanway will not be able to attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony despite being nominated alongside Mille Bright, Rachel Daly and Mary Earps for the women's award.

The quartet helped England reach the World Cup final as the European champions narrowly lost 1-0 to Spain in the final.

The Lionesses face Belgium away in the Nations League on Tuesday meaning they cannot travel to the awards in Paris.

"It's unfortunate we couldn't be there," Stanway told reporters. "That's something we spoke as a player group, and we just kind of said it would be nice in the future if it wasn't on a matchday minus one, so that we could enjoy the experience.

"It is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"You never know if you're ever going to get selected for such an accolade like that again, so it would be really nice to enjoy the experience and be there and feel like a star amongst the stars."

1400 – HOW DO I WATCH THE BALLON D’OR 2023?

We bring you all the information you need on how to watch the 2023 Ballon d’Or with the ceremony being live streamed for free on TNTsports.co.uk.

You can also watch the ceremony live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+ from 6pm on Monday evening.

Will Lionel Messi land an expected eighth crown? Or will Manchester City's treble-winning Erling Haaland emerge victorious?

Full details on TNT Sports and discovery+ exclusive coverage here

1345 – HOW MANY PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS ARE NOMINATED?

• André Onana - Manchester United & Cameroon
• Mohamed Salah - Liverpool & Egypt
• Bukayo Saka - Arsenal & England
• Martin Odegaard - Arsenal & Norway
• Emiliano Martínez - Aston Villa & Argentina
• Josko Gvardiol - Manchester City & Croatia
• Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City & Belgium
• Bernardo Silva - Manchester City & Portugal
• Erling Haaland - Manchester City & Norway
• Julián Álvarez - Manchester City & Argentina
• Ruben Dias - Manchester City & Portugal
• Rodri - Manchester City & Spain

12 of the 30-man shortlist come from the Premier League: Seven from champions Manchester City (7), Arsenal (2), Liverpool (1), Manchester United (1) and Aston Villa (1).

Odegaard 'leads by example' with long range strike for Arsenal's fourth in PSV rout

1330 – WHO VOTES FOR THE BALLON D'OR WINNER?

Organised and presented by magazine France Football, 100 journalists from FIFA’s top-ranked member nations pick five players from the 30-player shortlist, ranking each player from 1-5 with the votes allocated in descending order.

The player with the most votes wins the top award.

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid won the 2022 Ballon d’Or by the second biggest margin ever.

Benzema beat Sadio Mane by 356 votes. Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon d’Or victory in 2016, when he won the award for the fourth time, is the only other occasion where a player has won by more votes. Ronaldo beat Lionel Messi by 429 votes seven years ago.

The voting format at the 2022 Ballon d’Or saw 100 journalists from FIFA's top 100 nations select their top five from the 30-man shortlist.

The players on each jury member’s list were awarded points, as follows:

• First: Six points
• Second: Four points
• Third: Three points
• Fourth: Two points
• Fifth: One point

1315 – MBAPPE RESCUES THE DAY FOR PSG

Ballon d'Or nominee Kylian Mbappe showed his world-class finishing power as French champions Paris Saint-German completed a 3-2 away win against Brest on Sunday.

1250 – THE BT APP HAS CLOSED

The BT Sport app closed on Thursday, October 12, 2023.

TNT Sports customers who want to stream live sport content, including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Premiership Rugby, MotoGP, UFC, Boxing and WWE, are encouraged to download the discovery+ app at the earliest opportunity. 

1240 – OWEN AND KEOWN ON THE QUALITY OF MUSIALA

Comparisons are being made between the talented young Ballon d'Or nominees Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid.

2001 Ballon d'Or winner Michael Owen and three-time Premier League winner Martin Keown discuss the similarities on TNT Sports.

1230 – WHO HAS WON THE WORLD CUP, UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND BALLON D'OR?

This is a great question for a pub quiz. Only nine men have achieved this remarkable feat.

• Sir Bobby Charlton (Manchester United & England)
• Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich & Germany)
• Gerd Muller (Bayern Munich & Germany)
• Paolo Rossi (Juventus & Italy)
• Zinedine Zidane (Juventus & France)
• Rivaldo (Milan & Brazil)
• Ronaldinho (Barcelona & Brazil)
• Kaka (Milan & Brazil)
• Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain & Argentina)

1220 – WHO CAN STOP FAVOURITE LIONEL MESSI FROM WINNING AN EIGHTH TROPHY? WHAT ARE THE LATEST ODDS?

Lionel Messi is a record seven-time winner of the Ballon d'Or trophy for the world's best footballer but former Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema has hold of the Golden Ball. Can Messi wrestle it back or will one of Manchester City's Treble winners cause a shock at a ceremony? England's Jude Bellingham also aims to make history by taking home silverware. We also look at the latest odds.

Read more here

1210 – WHEN SIR BOBBY CHARLTON RULED THE WORLD

The Manchester United and England great edged out Eusébio by a single point for the Ballon d'Or in 1966 with two-time winner Franz Beckenbauer in third place as Sir Bobby achieved global recognition for inspiring his country to World Cup glory at Wembley.

It is a poignant reminder of his enduring greatness at a time when Manchester United and British football are in mourning over his death at the age of 86.

1200 – ONANA SAVES UNITED IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Andre Onana of Manchester United shows why is among the contenders for the best goalkeeper award this evening. Relive his dramatic last-gasp save from Jordan Larsson in the UEFA Champions League win against FC Copenhagen last week.

1150 – WHO IS UP FOR THE BEST GOALKEEPER AWARD?

The Yachine Trophy, or Yashin Trophy, named after the iconic former Soviet Union goalkeeper and 1963 Ballon d'Or winner Lev Yashin, has been won by Alisson of Liverpool, PSG and Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at Milan and Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid since it was created in 2019.

Arsenal's out-of-favour goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, Manchester United's summer signing Andre Onana and Aston Villa's World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez are on the shortlist for the Yashin Trophy ahead of the Ballon d'Or 2023.

Ramsdale, Onana and Martinez on shortlist for Yachine Trophy ahead of Ballon d'Or

1140 – HOW TO WATCH FULHAM V MANCHESTER UNITED ON TNT SPORTS AND DISCOVERY+

We give you all the details on how to watch and live stream Fulham v Manchester United in the Premier League in the UK on TNT Sports and discovery+. Erik ten Hag's side head into the match following a chastening 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford, which leaves them 11 points adrift of league leaders Tottenham. Meanwhile, Fulham showed their resilience to draw 1-1 away at Brighton.

Full details here

1130 – HOW DO I WATCH THE BALLON D’OR 2023?

We bring you all the information you need on how to watch the 2023 Ballon d’Or with the ceremony being live streamed for free on TNTsports.co.uk. You can also watch the ceremony live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+ from 6pm on Monday evening. Will Lionel Messi land an expected eighth crown? Or will Manchester City's treble-winning Erling Haaland emerge victorious?

Full details on TNT Sports and discovery+ exclusive coverage here

1120 – KEEGAN JOINS ELITE BAND OF FOOTBALL ICONS

The former Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle and England striker won the award in successive seasons for former German champions Hamburg in 1978 and 1979.

He is the only British player to lift the Ballon d'Or twice, one of only 10 multiple winners since 1956 and one of only seven men to win it back-to-back.

Keegan is in the very best of company with the others being Messi, Ronaldo, Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

1115 – A SPECIAL FINISH FROM LEWANDOWSKI TO BRING UP EURO CENTURY

The Barcelona and Poland striker finished second behind Lionel Messi in 2021. He is again on the 30-man shortlist for this evening's award ceremony.

'It's picture perfect' - Lewandowski volleys in 100th UEFA competition goal

1100 – WHO IS FAVOURITE FOR THE WOMEN'S BALLON D'OR?

Spain’s World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati is the red-hot favourite to succeed her international team-mate, Alexia Putellas, having won the Golden Ball for her exploits in Australia and New Zealand.

1050 – HARRY KANE CHASES UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GLORY

Ballon d'Or nominee Harry Kane is chasing European football's top prize at Bayern Munich.

Speaking on TNT Sports, former Bayern and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves assesses the forward's prospects of achieving his dream this season.

1040 – IS THE MESSI V RONALDO RIVALRY OVER?

The icons are both playing their football outside of Europe these days, and a Messi win tonight would probably signal the end of an era with world football's dynamic duo dominating the Ballon d'Or.

They have won it an atonishing 12 times in the past 14 years with only Luka Modric (2018) and Karim Benzema (2022) managing to break up the hegemony.

Ronaldo was not nominated this year and is of a mind that the fierce rivalry between the leading men is over.

'Changed the history of football' - Ronaldo speaks on legendary rivalry with Messi

1030 – SALAH SPARKLES FOR LIVERPOOL ON DERBY DAY

Enjoy some quality finishing in the Premier League from Ballon d'Or nominee Mohamed Salah against city rivals Everton.

1020 – BELLINGHAM, HOJLUND TOP KOPA TROPHY NOMINEES AHEAD OF BALLON D'OR 2023

Jude Bellingham tops the list of Kopa Trophy nominees as he looks to become the first Englishman to be crowned the best young player in the world.

The 20-year-old Real Madrid star came second in the 2021 vote, and is included in the 2023 shortlist alongside Manchester United's summer signing Rasmus Hojlund and Barcelona duo Pedri and Gavi.

The winner will be announced at the Ballon d'Or ceremony

1010 – HOW DO I WATCH THE BALLON D’OR 2023?

We bring you all the information you need on how to watch the 2023 Ballon d’Or with the ceremony being live streamed for free on TNTsports.co.uk. You can also watch the ceremony live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+ from 6pm on Monday evening. Will Lionel Messi land an expected eighth crown? Or will Manchester City's treble-winning Erling Haaland emerge victorious?

Full details on TNT Sports and discovery+ exclusive coverage here

1000 – WHO WON LAST YEAR'S AWARD?

Karim Benzema was presented with his first Ballon d'Or at a lavish ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

The Real Madrid striker beat the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski in the voting to claim the most prestigious individual award in men's football after a sensational 2021-22 season.

He helped steer Real to the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League.

Karim Benzema's 2022 Ballon D'Or

0950 – JOE COLE ON MESSI'S 'SPIRITUAL' MAGIC

Joe Cole thinks Lionel Messi’s World Cup triumph makes him the stand-out candidate to win the Ballon d’Or, while Joleon Lescott says Erling Haaland should win.

“What Messi done at the World Cup and it looks like FIFA, because of the change of the dates, are putting that in this section. I just think that was just outstanding, almost spiritual,” said Cole on TNT Sports.

“The one question people had over Messi was ‘was he a leader?’ Forget the goals and the assists, the way he led that team of young players by the way, and he drove them, and there were so many moments where they could’ve been going out.

“I just think it was the cherry on the cake for probably the outstanding football career we’ve seen."

0940 – CITY DOMINANCE REFLECTED AT BALLON D'OR

Manchester City's historic treble campaign of UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup glory has been reflected with seven players nominated for the men's award and Ilkay Gundogan also up for the top award before his move to Barcelona.

• Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)
• Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
• Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
• Erling Haaland (Manchester City
• Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
• Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
• Rodri (Manchester City)

Enjoy arguably the biggest night in the club's history as Pep Guardiola's side completed a 1-0 over Inter Milan in June to lift the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

0930 – MESSI, MBAPPE OR BELLINGHAM? – TNT SPORTS GOALS SHOW TEAM PICK THEIR WINNER

Lionel Messi is the heavy favourite to win what would be a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or , and the TNT Sports Goals Show team have had their say on who should win it. Messi has enjoyed a successful start to life in the MLS with Inter Miami, while Kylian Mbappe is freely scoring for Paris Saint-Germain and Jude Bellingham has made an incredible start to life at Real Madrid.

Read more here

0920 – THE BT APP HAS CLOSED

The BT Sport app closed on Thursday, October 12, 2023.

TNT Sports customers who want to stream live sport content, including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Premiership Rugby, MotoGP, UFC, Boxing and WWE, are encouraged to download the discovery+ app at the earliest opportunity. 

0915 – HOW MANY BRITISH PLAYERS HAVE WON THE BALLON D'OR?

Stanley Matthews was the first recipient of the award in 1956. As a Blackpool player, he held off Real Madrid duo Alfredo Di Stefano and Raymond Kopa to become the inaugural winner.

Scotland and Manchester United striker Denis Law won in 1964 with England's World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton claiming the prize representing United in 1966 and Old Trafford's Northern Irish icon George Best two years later as part of United's famous 'Holy Trinity'.

Kevin Keegan was successful at Hamburg in 1978 and 1979 with Michael Owen lifting the award in 2001 at Real Madrid, the sixth and last British player so far to win the Ballon d'Or.

0900 – HOW DOES PEP GUARDIOLA SEE IT?

The Manchester City manager has coached both Lionel Messi during his Barcelona golden period and Erling Haaland at the Etihad. Guardiola mischievously suggested that Lionel Messi should have his own Ballon d'Or award, but also believes that Erling Haaland would be a worthy winner. Haaland scored 52 goals last season across all competitions as City won their first-ever treble. Meanwhile, another Ballon d'Or win for Messi would extend his record tally to eight Golden Balls.

Guardiola backs Haaland and Messi to fight for the Ballon d’Or award

0850 – RONALDO ENJOYS NIGHT OUT AT BOXING

Cristiano Ronaldo is not in the running to claim a sixth Ballon d'Or having lifted the fabled trophy in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, but the Portuguese icon certainly enjoyed his night out at the heavyweight boxing in Riyadh on Saturday to watch Tyson Fury edge a points decision against Francis Ngannou in 'The Battle of the Baddest' on TNT Sports Box Office. Ronaldo is representing Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League where he has scored 25 times in 26 games.

Watch as Ronaldo scores winner with beautiful free-kick for Al Nassr

0840 – HOW DO I WATCH THE BALLON D’OR 2023?

We bring you all the information you need on how to watch the 2023 Ballon d’Or with the ceremony being live streamed for free on TNTsports.co.uk. You can also watch the ceremony live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+ from 6pm on Monday evening. Will Lionel Messi land an expected eighth crown? Or will Manchester City's treble-winning Erling Haaland emerge victorious?

Full details on TNT Sports and discovery+ exclusive coverage here

0830 – HAALAND CONTINUES SCORING SPREE IN CITY WIN

Ballon d'Or hopeful Erling Haaland warmed up for tonight's awards ceremony by scoring his first two derby goals at Old Trafford in a one-sided 3-0 victory at Manchester United on Sunday. He also played provider for Phil Foden to add the third late on. Haaland's goals came after he helped to himself another delightful double in the 3-1 UEFA Champions League victory at Young Boys in midweek. You can enjoy the highlights of that impressive City win in Switzerland that illustrated why Pep Guardiola's side have so many nominees for this year's Ballon d'Or.

0820 – PAPER ROUND: DE BRUYNE 'COULD BE TEMPTED' BY SAUDI ARABIA MOVE

Ballon d'Or contender Kevin De Bruyne could apparently consider a prospective move to Saudi Arabia, according to speculation in The Sun newspaper. The Champions League winner is injured at the moment, but you can be sure City fans would not welcome the news of him leaving any time soon. Reports also suggest The Citizens are determined "to make a profit on out-of-favour midfielder Kalvin Phillips" after setting an asking price of £50 million. Elsewhere, Jesse Lingard is reportedly on the hunt for a new club after "Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq didn't have room" for the former England international.

Read the full details from Monday morning's Paper Round

0810 – HOW DO THE BOOKMAKERS SEE IT?

Lionel Messi is a strong favourite to claim the Ballon d'Or for a record eighth time after helping Argentina win the World Cup in December. Which equates to a more than 80% chance of glory. Messi has also won the celebrated award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.

LATEST LIVE ODDS

• Lionel Messi 1/5
• Erling Haaland 13/2
• Kevin De Bruyne 80/1
• Rodri 80/1
• Julian Alvarez 80/1
• Jude Bellingham 100/1

0800 – HOW TO WATCH THE BALLON D’OR 2023 - FREE LIVE STREAM DETAILS AND TV CHANNEL, START TIME, NOMINEES

We bring you all the information you need on how to watch the 2023 Ballon d’Or with the ceremony being live streamed for free on TNTsports.co.uk. You can also watch the ceremony live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+ from 6pm on Monday evening. Will Lionel Messi land an expected eighth crown? Or will Manchester City's treble-winning Erling Haaland emerge victorious?

Full details on TNT Sports exclusive coverage here

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Welcome to our live blog on the morning of the Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony as we build up to the most prestigious individual awards in football with many of the biggest names in football set to be present.

From 6pm UK time, you will be able to enjoy our free live stream of the ceremony in this article via the TNT Sports app or TNTSports.co.uk, along with the latest updates of everything notable from the star-studded evening.

You can, of course, also choose to watch the ceremony live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+ with the awards being broadcast across the platforms. For more information, check out our dedicated 'how to watch' article.

In terms of the key timings for you to be aware of, the red carpet arrivals will begin from 18:00 UK time, as the great and good of football take their places at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. The main ceremony will then begin at 19:45 and is scheduled to finish at 21:30.

In addition to the main awards - which are expected to be claimed by Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati, respectively - there will also be a host of other categories, including the Puskas Award for the best goal, the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, and the Kopa Trophy for the best Under-21 player.

Let's recap the nominees, while you can also check out the latest odds in our preview to the awards ceremony...

MEN'S BALLON D'OR 2023 NOMINEES

Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)
Andre Onana (Manchester United)
Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad)
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint Germain)
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Nicola Barella (Inter Milan)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal)
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter MIlan)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Rodri (Manchester City)
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint German)
Kim Min-Jae (Bayern Munich)
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

• Ballon d'Or 2023: Messi, Mbappe or Bellingham? – Goals Show pundits pick their winner
• Ballon d'Or 2023: Can anyone stop Messi? What are the latest odds?

WOMEN'S BALLON D'OR FEMININ 2023 NOMINEES

Alba Redondo (Levante Union Deportiva)
Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon)
Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)
Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid)
Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)
Olga Carmona (Real Madrid)
Amanda Ilestedt (Arsenal)
Hayley Raso (Real Madrid)
Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
Hinata Miyazawa (Manchester United)
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg)
Millie Bright (Chelsea)
Daphne van Domselaar (Aston Villa)
Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg)
Debinha (Kansas City)
Guro Reiten (Chelsea)
Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
Jill Roord (Manchester City)
Alexandria Popp (Wolfsburg)
Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
Mary Earps (Manchester United)
Wendie Renard (Lyon)
Mapi Leon (Barcelona)
Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)
Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)

KOPA TROPHY 2023 NOMINEES

Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United)
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
Alejandro Balde (Barcelona)
Pedri (Barcelona)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Antonio Silva (Benfica)
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig)
Gavi (Barcelona)
Elye Wahi (Lens)

YACHINE TROPHY 2023 NOMINEES

Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Yasssine Bounou (Al Hilal)
Andre Onana (Manchester United)
Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahce)
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Barcelona)
Ederson (Manchester City)
Brice Samba (Lens)

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