Ballon d’Or, the serious mistake

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By: Nicolas Gerbault

Ballon d’Or, the serious mistake

The list of 30 players nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or is causing scandal across Europe, due for example to the absences of Rafael Leao and Marc-André ter Stegen. The Barça goalkeeper had an exceptional season individually.

Before letting its jury of 100 international journalists vote, France Football has determined the 30 nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or by attempting to reward the great collective performances of the 2022 World Cup as well as Inter Milan’s journey to the Champions League final. As a result, several players who were among the best of the 2022-2023 season in Europe are absent. However, individual performances are now the first criterion…

In Barcelona, ​​we absolutely do not understand the absence of Marc-André ter Stegen from the 30 named. The German goalkeeper of the Blaugranas contributed as much as Robert Lewandowski (23 goals) to the coronation of Xavi’s team, achieving the historic record of 26 clean sheets, for 18 small goals conceded in La Liga. Barça does not concede many chances, of course, but Ter Stegen is the goalkeeper who has saved the most points for his team in Europe, if we rely on advanced statistics.

Ter Stegen best player in La Liga

The absence of Ter Stegen is all the more improbable as it is the 31-year-old goalkeeper who was voted best player of the season in La Liga! The Mönchengladbach native had a better season than many of the 30 players named by France Football and, it is certain, was more efficient individually than Yassine Bounou, Emiliano Martinez and André Onana, the three goalkeepers in the running for the Ballon d’Or. Winning the Yachine Trophy would be a meager consolation prize.

Things are also brewing in Portugal, where Bruno Fernandes and especially Rafael Leao have not been named. The Manchester United attacking midfielder is one of the best players in the Premier League, he was the player who created the most chances in Europe last season. Leao, for his part, caused misery to defenders in Serie A and until the semi-finals of the LDC (16 and 15 assists in 48 matches). Inter’s final is perhaps overvalued. Besides Onana, Nicolo Barella could not have been part of the 30. This would have been less shocking than the absence of Ter Stegen…

Nicolas Gerbault

Written by:

Nicolas Gerbault

Nicolas Gerbault is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Nicolas discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Nicolas enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.