With two-time defending champion Alexia Putellas out of the running following an injury-plagued season, a new champion will be crowned on October 30
The Women’s Ballon d’Or is still a relatively new prize on the global football stage, but winning the Golden Ball is swiftly becoming a dream for many of the world’s finest players. And, following a memorable year for the women’s game, the shortlist of nominees for the 2023 award has been announced.
The 2022-23 season was dominated by Spanish football, with Barcelona winning both the domestic title and the Champions League before La Roja won the World Cup in exciting manner following a fantastic tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Despite this, two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas is out of contention for this year’s prize after missing much of the season with a knee injury, with Aitana Bonmati, her club and international teammate, the current favourite to succeed Putellas in lifting the Golden Ball.
We’ll have to wait until Monday, October 30 to find out whether Bonmati or someone else wins the award, but in the meantime, these are the players that have been shortlisted for football’s highest individual honor:
- Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon)
- Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid)
- Alba Redondo (Levante)
- Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)
- Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)
- Olga Carmona (Real Madrid)
- Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
- Amanda Ilestedt (Arsenal)
- Hayley Raso (Real Madrid)
- Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
- Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
- Millie Bright (Chelsea)
- Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai)
- Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg)
- Daphne van Domeslaar (Aston Villa)
