The race for Ballon d’or 2023 is already on even before Karim Benzema’s triumph in that of 2022 last Monday at Théâtre du Chatelet, in Paris.

The Real Madrid forward who beat Sadio Mane and Kevin De Bruyne to claim the award is only 8th on Goal‘s 2023 favourites at the moment.

FC Barcelona goal-getter Robert Lewandowski ranks fifth on the list while Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are respectively third and second.

On the other hand, Sadio Mane who is only 14th while Mohamed Salah is 9th ahead of Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus in this Top 20 as Cristiano Ronaldo fails to make the ranking.

Read more : Ten Hag makes Cristiano Ronaldo decision after Tottenham game

Ballon d’or 2023 favourites according to Goal

20- Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)

19- Fede Valverde (Real Madrid)

18- Cody Gakpo (PSV)

17- Rafael Leão (AC Milan)

16- Leroy Sané (Bayern Munich)

15- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)

14- Sadio Mané (Bayern Munich)

13- Gabriel Jésus (Arsenal)

12- Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)

11- Harry Kane (Tottenham)

10- Phil Foden (Manchester City)

9- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

8- Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

7- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

6- Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

5- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelone)

4- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

3- Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)

2- Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)

1- Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)