Lionel Messi Paris Saint-Germain was in beast mode against Angers on Friday, creating many chances. Obviously, the Argentine captain keeps leading the 2023 Ballon D’or race based on his statistics.
Even though the Parisians are already out of the UEFA Champions League. They are, in fact, the favorite to win the Ligue 1 title this season.
After their 2-1 victory over Angers on Friday, they are now 11 points above second place (Marseille) in the league table. That’s another trophy loading for Messi’s cabinet.
In the absence of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have been running the show for the Parisians, particularly in the league, where they are currently on a 3-match winning streak.
Statistically, Lionel Messi has now scored 15 goals and registered 15 assists in 27 Ligue 1 appearances this season. Apparently, he may actually win the 2023 Ballon D’or.
Therefore, that’s now the Argentine captain’s first league campaign with 15 assists since the 2019-2020 season. He registered 21 assists in La Liga that campaign.
In addition, Messi is now the first player to register 60 goal contributions (goals and assists) for club and country this season. No player in the world has more than him.
At the age of 35, the 2023 FIFA World Cup champion is dragging the wheel with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. He keeps showing his worth in all competitions.
Despite the fact that the Argentina international is tagged “finished,” he keeps making headlines. Messi has now registered 60+ goal contributions in a single season for the 13th time.
Even though the likes of Erling Haaland and Karim Benzema are still in the UEFA Champions League. Lionel has the upper-hand in winning the 2023 Ballon D’or.
Ballon D’or 2023: Top five players with the most goal contributions for club and country this season
- Lionel Messi – 60 (34 goals + 26 assists)
- KylianMbappe – 56 (45 goals + 11 assists)
- ErlingHaaland – 55 (49 goals + 6 assists)
- Mohamed Salah – 43 (30 goals + 13 assists)
- Neymar Jr – 40 (21 goals + 19 assists)
Obviously, Mohamed Salah keeps dining with the big boys, even though Liverpool have gone through hell in all competitions this campaign.
Erling Haaland is single-handedly ruling the Premier League, and helping the Citizens in the UEFA Champions League. However, he’s five 5G/A behind the Argentine captain.
Messi’s stats vs Mbappe, Haaland for club and country this campaign
Lionel Messi’s stats vs Kylian Mbappe
| Stats | Messi | Mbappe |
| Goal | 34 | 45 |
| Assists | 26 | 11 |
| Goal contributions | 60 | 56 |
| Shots on target | 100 | 106 |
| Big chances missed | 20 | 32 |
| Touches | 3700 | 2500 |
| Accurate passes | 2600 | 1600 |
| Chances created | 130 | 70 |
| Big chances created | 40 | 20 |
| Dribbles completed | 140 | 115 |
| Fouls won | 80 | 60 |
| Tackles | 40 | 9 |
| Recoveries | 115 | 88 |
| Man of the match awards | 26 | 7 |
| Average ratings | 8.26 | 7.50 |
Lionel Messi’s stats vs Erling Haaland
| Stats | Messi |
Haaland |
| Goal | 34 | 49 |
| Assists | 26 | 6 |
| Goal contributions | 60 | 55 |
| Shots on target | 100 | 72 |
| Big chances missed | 20 | 27 |
| Touches | 3700 | 950 |
| Accurate passes | 2600 | 540 |
| Chances created | 130 | 35 |
| Big chances created | 40 | 12 |
| Dribbles completed | 140 | 16 |
| Fouls won | 80 | 20 |
| Tackles | 40 | 6 |
| Recoveries | 115 | 43 |
| Man of the match awards | 26 | 9 |
| Average ratings | 8.26 | 7.44 |
Who would win the 2023 Ballon D’or?
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
The Norwegian goal-machine has the probability of winning the Ballon D’or this campaign, if he wins the UEFA Champions League with Manchester City.
Erling Haaland has single-handedly broken many records in the Premier League. And he keeps balling in other competitions, helping the Citizens.
Obviously, he didn’t participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, he has the upper-hand to compete with Lionel Messi, if he really lifts the UCL with City.
Aside from that, Pep Guardiola’s men are on the verge of winning the Premier League and the FA Cup. Therefore, Haaland is most likely to win a treble this season.
In the absence of Mbappe, Salah, Osimhen, and others, Erling is the highest goal-scorer in the competition, making himself unstoppable.
If Haaland really wins a treble (UCL, EPL, FA Cup) with Manchester City this campaign. He may leapfrog the Argentine captain to win the world’s best award.
Of course, Karim Benzema was able to win the 2022 Ballon D’or because he won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid.
As a result, the Norwegian youngster will definitely be a strong contender for the award at the end of the season, if he wins the UCL.
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
The Frenchman is also having fun with the Parisians this campaign. He’s currently with 56 goal contributions for club and country, even though he’s out of the UEFA Champions League.
At the moment, Mbappe has already won one trophy (French Super Cup) with Paris Saint-Germain. And his side are currently the favorite to win the 2022-2023 Ligue 1 title.
However, he’s not really among the favorites to win the Ballon D’or winner, because PSG’s statistics are quite awful in the UEFA Champions League.
Kylian is currently 4 goal contributions behind Lionel Messi. Nevertheless, his win probability is very low, even though Paris Saint-Germain wins the Ligue 1.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe made it to the 2022 FIFA World Cup final with France, having been defeated by Argentina during a penalty shootout in Qatar.
Luka Modric won the 2018 Ballon D’or, mainly because he made it to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final with Croatia. So, the Frenchman is most likely to make it into the top five candidates.
Mbappe is seriously unpredictable when it comes to scoring goals. Therefore, he’s most likely to register more than 60 goal contributions, but Messi ain’t joking either.
Despite the fact that he’s already out of the UCL with Paris Saint-Germain. His statistics in the 2022 FIFA World Cup with France worth something.
Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)
The Parisians No.30 has already won two trophies this campaign, which are the French Super Cup and the FIFA World Cup. That’s why he remains the favorite.
Messi is on the verge of winning his 8thBallonD’or award, because he’s currently on fire in all competitions, particularly in Ligue 1 based on his display on Friday.
Even though Erling Haaland wins the UEFA Champions League with Manchester City. He’s literally behind Lionel, because he’s a World Cup champion.
Aside from goals and assists, the Argentine captain outperforms Haaland and Mbappe, talking about chances created, key passes, dribbles, tackles, and the rest.
Lionel Messi is on the verge of winning a treble this campaign. He has already won the French Super Cup, FIFA World Cup, and he is now the favorite to win the 2023 Ballon D’or.
Luka Modric won the UEFA Champions League and made it to the World Cup final in 2018, before he won the world’s best award that year.
Meanwhile, the Argentine captain is already out of the UCL, but he has won two titles for club and country in the 2022-2023 season. Which means he remains a strong contender.
Of course, winning the UEFA Champions League always plays a major role in deciding the Ballon D’or winner. Regardless, the Parisians No.30 is leading the race.
Speaking of Europe’s top-5 leagues this campaign, Messi has the most assists (24) and the most goal contributions (60). Lionel is literally above the other contenders.
Top 5 players for 2023 Ballon D’or with winning probability
- Lionel Messi – 71% probability
- Erling Haaland – 14% probability
- Karim Benzema – 5% probability
- Kylian Mbappe – 3% probability
- Vinícius – 3% probability
Obviously, becoming the UEFA Champions League champion always plays a massive role in winning the Ballon D’or award.
That’s why Erling Haaland and Karim Benzema have now leapfrogged Kylian Mbappe. Of course, both players have made it to the semi-finals.
Benzema hasn’t been really impressive this season in all competitions for Real Madrid. As a result, he’s most unlikely to win the world’s best award, even if Los Blancos win the UCL.
Being the 2022 FIFA World Cup champion keeps Lionel Messi afloat. And has been balling for club and country since the beginning of the 2022-2023 campaign.
Vinícius is expected to make it to the top five shortlist at the end of the season. The Brazilian is currently unstoppable for Real Madrid, particularly in the UEFA Champions League.
The Brazilian International helped Los Blancos against Chelsea and Liverpool in the competition. Therefore, he may be above Mbappe when the campaign ends.
Even though Kylian is out of the UCL, he’s still a contender for the BallonD’or, having had 56 goal contributions for club and country this campaign.
At the same time, he made it to the 2022 FIFA World Cup final with Les Blues in Qatar. And he was impressive against Argentina, scoring a hat-trick in the final.
Despite the fact that Benzema and Haaland are now in semi-finals of the UCL. Messi obviously remains the favorite to lift his 8th BallonD’or award.
Lionel Messi to win ballon dor
Mesi