Adipati slot Profile

Ballon d’Or: Bonmatí and Messi get top accolades as Bellingham acclaimed

Aitana Bonmatí and Lionel Messi win women’s and men’s awards
Jude Bellingham gets Kopa trophy for best player under age of 21

Aitana Bonmatí and Lionel Messi have been named the 2023 Ballon d’Or winners at the annual football awards ceremony in Paris.

Bonmatí was widely considered the favourite after being named player of the tournament as Spain won their first World Cup and she was part of the Barcelona Femení team that won the continental treble, scoring 118 goals and conceding just 10 in the league. Bonmatí beat Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr into second place, with her Spain and Barcelona team-mate Salma Paralluelo coming third.

Jude Bellingham celebrates his winning goal for Real Madrid against Barcelona
Real Love for Bellingham as magical history tour hits top notes in clásico
Read more
On the day the former Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales was banned from football activities for three years by the Fifa disciplinary committee after an investigation into his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final, Bonmatí chose to thank her family, teammates and the Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, for their role in her success and said the football world has responsibility as “role models” to fight for equality.

“We have a responsibility on and off the pitch,” Bonmatí said. “We should be more than athletes. Keep leading by example and keep fighting together for a better, peaceful and equal world.”

England’s Rachel Daly, Georgia Stanway, Millie Bright and Mary Earps were on the shortlist for the women’s award following their run to the World Cup final but were unable to attend because of international commitments.

Earps finished highest among the England players in fifth, with Daly 10th and Bright directly behind her in 11th, Stanway finished 23rd, one place above her former teammate the Jamaica international Khadija Shaw.

Messi’s World Cup‑winning campaign with Argentina made him the favourite and he was on hand to receive his record eighth award on what would have been the 63rd birthday of the legendary compatriot Diego Maradona. The Inter Miami owner, David Beckham, handed the forward the award.

Messi’s victory puts Argentina at the top of the rankings of wins by country (eight), ahead of France, Germany, Netherlands and Portugal with seven.

Messi said: “I couldn’t imagine having the career that I’ve had. Everything that I’ve achieved. The fortune I’ve had playing for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It’s nice to win these individual trophies. To win the Copa America and then the World Cup, to get it done is amazing.”

The England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who came 18th in the overall vote, said there was “more to come” as he won the Kopa trophy for the best under-21 male player claiming 15 goals and eight assists for Borussia Dortmund last season, having begun life at his new club Real Madrid in dazzling form.

Erling Haaland, who scored a remarkable 52 goals for Manchester City last season, won the Gerd Müller trophy and came second in the proceedings, with Kylian Mbappé in third, and Haaland’s teammates Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri in fourth and fifth respectively.

The Sócrates prize to acknowledge humanitarian work championed by a footballer was handed to Vinícius Jr, who also placed sixth for the men’s award, by Prince Albert II of Monaco for the Real Madrid forward’s organisation, instituto Vini Jr, which provides opportunities for underprivileged Brazilian youngsters. Accepting the award, the winger paid tribute to late Brazil legend Pelé, calling him “a God for all of us”.

The winner of the Lev Yashin trophy was Emiliano Martínez. His father Alberto handed him the award after the goalkeeper’s heroics during Argentina’s victorious World Cup campaign.

The best PS5 RPG games 2023

If you're scrolling endlessly through the store looking for the best PS5 RPG games, we're here to help with some stellar role-playing suggestions.

What are the best PS5 RPG games? Role-playing games on Sony’s console come in a vast array of different flavors and styles. While some of them are simply upgrades from the PS4, others are built from the ground up to take full advantage of the speed and power of the PS5, leading to game-changing experiences.

Whether you’re looking for one of the best PS5 games, something dark and gritty, something colorful and fun, something from our best RPG games list, or something to play with your friends, we’ve got you covered here at The Loadout while you wait for all the new PS5 games.

These are the best PS5 RPG games:

Final Fantasy 16
Horizon Forbidden West
Elden Ring
Diablo 4
Final Fantasy XIV
Tales of Arise
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Judgment
Yakuza Like a Dragon
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
The Nioh Collection
Genshin Impact
Honkai Star Rail
Lies of P