Balon D’OR Prediction: Victor Osimhen to finish In top-ten, Messi to win
Ahead of tonight’s Ballon D’or awards night in Paris, Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen has been predicted to finish in the top ten while Lionel Messi will win the coveted award.
Victor Osimhen was nominated for the 2023 Ballon D’or awards, in recognition of his stellar performances in the season to help Napoli SSC win the Italian Serie A title and reach the last-8 of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
According to GOAL, the 2022/2023 Italian Serie A top-scorer will finish as the highest ranked African player in 8th place, on a 20-man shortlist with Lionel Messi heavily backed to land his eight Ballon D’or award after leading Argentina to FIFA World Cup success in Qatar.
Manchester City talisman, Erling Haaland is ranked second, Kylian Mbappe (3rd), Vinicuis Jr (4th), Kevin De Bruyne (5th), Rodri (6th), Gundogan occupies 7th spot while Victor Osimhen completes the top-8.
PREDICTED 2023 BALON D’OR TOP 20
1. Lionel Messi
2. Erling Haaland
3. Kylian Mbappé
4. Vinicius Jr
5: Kevin De Bruyne
6: Rodri
7: Ilkay Gündogan
8: Victor Osimhen
9: Julian Alvarez
10: Robert Lewandowski
11: Jude Bellingham
12: Bernardo Silva
13: Karim Benzema
14: Kvaratskhelia
15: Lautaro Martinez
16: Bukayo Saka
17: Emiliano Martinez
18: Martin Ødegaard
19: Mohamed Salah
20: Musiala
