Soccer

Messi, Haaland or Vinicius? Bernardo Silva weighs in on 2023 Ballon d'Or race, but there's a catch

With the 2022-23 season coming to an end, many start to predict who will win the 2023 Ballon d'Or. Bernardo Silva seems to have his candidate... Or not.

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Updated on
August 01, 2025 06:39PM EDT

**© Julian Finney/Getty Images**Bernardo Silva in action.

With the European soccer season reaching its crucial stages, we can already debate who were the best of the 2022-23 campaign. Now it’s safe to say which players might be in contention for the Ballon d’Or, but it’s hard to tell who will win.

Of course, the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Vinicius Junior should lead the race for the award given by France Football. And although the Argentine star made a strong case in the World Cup, the Norwegian striker and the Brazilian winger can still increase their chances.

Both the Manchester City goal-scoring machine and the Real Madrid sensation are competing for the UEFA Champions League, which is always considered at the time of voting. Bernardo Silva revealed his favorite, but stressed that the season isn’t over yet.

Bernardo Silva says right now Messi should win Ballon d’Or, but the season hasn’t finished yet

“Until this moment, I would give it to Lionel Messi because he won the World Cup“, the Portuguese star told L’Equipe when asked about who should win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

“Then, if Manchester City win the Champions League, you could say Haaland. If Real Madrid win, you could say Vinicius Jr., who had an incredible season. We’ll have to wait until the end of the season to know who won the Champions League, who won the different championships. For instance, if Haaland wins the Premier League and the Champions League, he could join the debate.”

Silva has a fair point, because even if Messi is favorite due to his remarkable World Cup performance, Haaland and Vinicius can still make an impression before the end of the season. As he said, we’ll have to wait and see.

Martín O’donnell

Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Managing Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of multiple sports, including NFL and soccer, with a specialty in original content and real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Managing Editor since May 2025, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis with interviews and exclusive content.