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Football’s most sought after individual award is on the agenda once again as the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner is crowned.

This year’s shortlist has been put forward by France Football, with seven-time winner Lionel Messi a notable absentee for the first time since 2005.

The award is now based on performances over the season, rather than a calendar year.

As a result Karim Benzema is a heavy favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, after firing Real Madrid to

La Liga and Champions League glory last season, and he looks set to join team-mate Luka Modric as the only players other than

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to pick up the award since 2008.

There is plenty of Premier League representation on the 30-man shortlist,

with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Harry Kane the three English players to be nominated.

Erling Haaland’s incredible start to the season will not benefit him in the voting, but he looks well set to be a major contender for the 2023 award.

When will the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner be announced?

The winner will be crowned on Monday, October 17 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, with the ceremony set to begin at 7:30pm BST.

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Ballon d’Or shortlist in full

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)

Casemiro (Real Madrid)

Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Luis Diaz (Porto, Liverpool)

Fabinho (Liverpool)

Phil Foden (Manchester City)

Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)

Sebastien Haller (Ajax)

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Rafael Leao (Milan)

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)

Mike Maignan (Milan)

Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)

Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

Darwin Nunez (Benfica)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus, Manchester United)

Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina, Juventus)

What other awards will be given out?

The Feminin Ballon d’Or winner will also be announced, with Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright and Beth Mead the three England players on the shortlist.

Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema are also among the 20 players nominated, with Women’s Champions League winners Lyon having five players up for the award.

Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham are both on the ten-man shortlist for the Kopa Trophy, given to the best men’s U21 player,

while there are four Premier League goalkeepers nominated for the Yashin Trophy.

Alisson Becker, who won the inaugural award in 2019 is on the shortlist once again, as are Ederson, Hugo Lloris and Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea’s Jorginho is the fourth favourite to land the accolade according to the bookies, after winning the Champions League, as well at Euro 2020 with Italy.

Jorginho joined in the final 30 by Blues teammates Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, Cesar Azpilicueta and Romelu Lukaku, while six-time winner Lionel Messi remains the favourite.

The PSG forward won the Copa America with Argentina in the summer.

Before he left Barcelona, and he’s once again joined in the final 30 by five-time winner and Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Premier League Player of the Season Ruben Dias makes the cut.

As do Manchester City teammates Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has seen his odds to win slashed to after claims that he is currently the best player in the world.

The trophy will be handed out at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

And is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual award in the game.

With France Football crowning the world’s best player every year between 1956 and 2019.

That run came to an end last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski looked a certainty to pick up his first golden ball after managing an astonishing 55 goals in 47 games during the 2019/20 season.

The Pole has made the final 30 again after 48 goals in 40 games last season.

And sits as the bookies’ second favourite behind Messi.

Read Also: Premier League Sack race: Man United Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Now Favourite At 1/4 ON To Leave Next.

Ballon D’or: betting odds (as per Sky Bet)

Lionel Messi – 8/13 (favourite)

Robert Lewandowski – 5/2

Mohamed Salah – 6/1

Jorginho – 7/1

Karim Benzema – 16/1

N’Golo Kante – 20/1

Cristiano Ronaldo – 25/1

Kevin De Bruyne – 33/1

Kylian Mbappe – 33/1

Neymar – 33/1

Romelu Lukaku – 40/1

Bruno Fernandes – 50/1

Erling Haaland – 50/1

Giorgio Chiellini – 50/1

Harry Kane – 50/1

Simon Kjaer – 50/1

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 66/1

Raheem Sterling – 66/1

Ruben Dias – 66/1

Luis Suarez – 80/1

Mason Mount – 80/1

Paul Pogba – 80/1

Leonardo Bonucci – 100/1

Luka Modric – 100/1

Pedri – 100/1

Phil Foden – 100/1

Lautaro Martinez – 150/1

Riyad Mahrez – 150/1

Nicolo Barella – 200/1

Cesar Azpilicueta – 250/1

Gerard Moreno – 250/1

Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the award voting since 2008.

Picking up 11 crowns between them, only interrupted by a Luka Modric win in 2018.

The Croatian midfielder again makes the cut, joined by Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.

As well as LaLiga stars Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal) and Pedri (Barcelona).

Balloon d’Or

When is the Ballon d’Or 2022? Check The Shortlist In Full.