Bukayo Saka named on Ballon d’Or shortlist as Premier League stars dominate but Onana is only Man Utd star to get a nod
ENGLAND ace Bukayo Saka leads the string of Premier League stars nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The 22-year-old was a shining light for Arsenal last season, bagging 15 goals and 11 assists in their ill-fated Premier League title tilt.
And he’s been joined on the nominations list by countryman Jude Bellingham, who bagged a big-money move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid this summer thanks to 14 goals and seven assists in his final season for the Germans.
The Three Lions stars have been nominated for the coveted trophy along with some of the biggest names in world football – including their national team skipper Harry Kane.
Karim Benzema and Mohamed Salah have, unsurprisingly, been nominated for gong.
The prolific duo were joined by a staggering SEVEN Manchester City stars, with Kevin de Bruyne, Josko Gvardiol, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Julian Alvarez, Rodri and Erling Haaland all being nominated.
Manchester United newboy Andre Onana, Aston Villa‘s Emi Martinez and Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard completed the initial line-up of Prem stars up for the trophy.
Jamal Musaila’s displays for Bayern Munich saw him rewarded with a nomination alongside team-mate Kim Min-jae.
Paris Saint-Germain duo Randal Kolo Muani and Kylian Mbappe have also made the cut.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has also been nominated following an impressive season with Napoli along with team-mate Victor Osimhen.
Inter Milan duo Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez make up the Italian-based contingent up for the trophy.
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Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid will be represented at the ceremony thanks to Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and Vincius Jr.
Atletico Madrid‘s Antoine Griezmann is also up for the gong
The shock nomination for the trophy comes in the form of Al-Hilal’s Yassine Bounou.
France Football, who have run the prestigious award ceremony since 1956, have yet to release the full list of 30 candidates.
The most predictable nomination, unsurprisingly, came in the form of Inter Miami new boy Lionel Messi.
The seven-time trophy winner is the favourite to claim it following his heroics at the 2022 World Cup
Messi, 35, ended Argentina‘s 36-year wait to lift the most famous trophy in football last December at Qatar 2022, a tournament in which he scored seven goals and provided three assists.
The winner of the prestigious award will be announced on October 30.
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