Real Madrid released its official Ballon dOr 2022 candidate list on Friday, with Karim Benzema likely to be the standout favorite for France. The club had already announced its core nominees but added five fresh names to the mix: Thibaut Courtois, Luka Modric, Antonio Rüdiger, Vinicius Jr., and Casemiro. These choices underscore Real Madrids ongoing impact at both the domestic and European levels.
The roster features diverse talents, including newcomers and seasoned stars. It highlights the depth of the squad while signaling Real Madrids continued pursuit of individual honors alongside team achievements. The expanded slate also reflects the evolving landscape of football, where performance across competitions remains the key driver of recognition. [Source: official club release; attribution to the league organizers and participating clubs.]
Another notable development is the candidacy for players outside Madrid winning recognition this season. Gavi and Camavinga from Real Madrid were named for the Kopa Trophy, while Courtois, Oblak, and Bono are associated with the Yashin Award, marking a broad spectrum of international talent within the club networks. [Citation: EFE report on the nominations.]
The list also notes a recent transfer milestone: Robert Lewandowski, once again leading a top European attack, is listed as an outside LaLiga addition for the award cycle after his move to Barcelona. The wider field sees heavy contenders from several top clubs, with Real Madrid sharing the spotlight with teams that have contributed multiple nominees. Liverpool and Manchester City are prominently represented by a host of players, including Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Diaz, Fabinho, Nunez, Van Dijk, Mane, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Cancelo, Haaland, and Foden. [Source: club and league summaries; attribution to match reports and team rosters.]
The narrative also notes the absence of Lionel Messi from the typical Ballon dOr pulsations for the first time in 17 years, as he now plies his trade with PSG. His former Barcelona teammate Neymar Jr. also misses the list, drawing attention to the shifting tides of the sport and the changing centers of gravity among the world’s elite players. [Cited: season overviews and transfer analyses.]
Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas among 20 candidates for Ballon dOr
The Ballon dOr field remains a magnet for both men and women who have impressed across leagues and cups. The ongoing recognition for players in women’s football demonstrates the growing parity and the expanding scope of the awards season. The broader context shows how performances on the pitch translate into global attention and potential historic milestones for both the men’s and women’s game. [Source: event organizers and participating federations.]
Full list of candidates
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Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
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Raphael Leo (Milan)
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Christopher Nkunku (Leipzig)
- <p Mohammed Salah (Liverpool)
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Joshua Kimmich (Bayern)
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Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
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Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid)
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Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
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Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
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Robert Lewandowski (Bayern/Barcelona)
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Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)
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Carlos Henrique Casemiro (Real Madrid)
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Heung Min Son (Tottenham)
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Fabinho (Liverpool)
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Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
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Mike Maignan (Milan)
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Harry Kane (Tottenham)
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Darwin Nunez (Benfica/Liverpool)
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Phil Foden (Manchester City)
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Sadio Mane (Liverpool/Bayern)
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Sebastien Haller (Ajax/Dortmund)
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Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
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Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea/Real Madrid)
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
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Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
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Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
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Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
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Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
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Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
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Erling Haaland (Dortmund/Manchester City)