The winner of the Ballon d'Or will be announced on Monday, with a host of Premier League stars in the running for the prestigious award.
See: Amazing stats that have put Haaland in the running for Ballon d'Or
Indeed, of the 30 nominees, 14 are playing in the Premier League this season or starred in the competition in 2022/23. All players on the shortlist have been nominated due to their performances last campaign, at club and international level.
Only two players have previously won the Ballon d'Or for a period when they were at a Premier League club: Liverpool's Michael Owen in 2001 and Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United in 2008.
Here, we look at the 2023 nominees who are seeking to emulate them.
See: Ballon d'Or latest news and updates
Erling Haaland (Man City)
Expected to rival Lionel Messi for the esteemed award, Haaland has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or for the third time in as many years. The Norwegian striker broke countless records last season, after arriving at Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022.
Haaland scored 36 goals and produced eight assists in 35 Premier League appearances during the 2022/23 season. In addition, he won the Treble with Man City (Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League), the Premier League Golden Boot, and was voted EA SPORTS Player of the Season.
Haaland was also the highest-scoring player in the Champions League last season, with City eventually lifting the trophy for the first time in their history.
Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
In a record-breaking campaign for Man City, De Bruyne was once again at the forefront of it all and claimed the Castrol Playmaker of the Season award. With 16 Premier League assists, the Belgian midfielder was only four away from equalling the record that he holds jointly with Thierry Henry for the most assists in a single Premier League season, hitting 20 back in 2019/20.
De Bruyne added another seven assists to his tally in the Champions League, providing another four in the FA Cup and one more in the EFL Cup. With Haaland up front, it is no wonder that De Bruyne enjoyed such a successful season.
Julian Alvarez (Man City)
At the age of 23, Alvarez has already won the FIFA World Cup, a Premier League title, an FA Cup and lifted the Champions League trophy with Man City.
When Alvarez first arrived in Manchester in 2022 he was very much in Haaland's shadow. Fast forward to now, and the Argentinian is one of the world's most exciting attackers. Alvarez scored nine league goals in a breakthrough season and that form has continued into this season with seven goal contributions in nine appearances.
Rodri (Man City)
Described by Pep Guardiola as "the best midfielder in Europe", Rodri is arguably one of the best in the world too. Sitting at the base of Man City's midfield, the Spaniard is undroppable under Guardiola and has proved to be a threat in front of goal, as well as superb at disabling any opponent's attack.
He scored the most important goal in City's recent history, curling a sweet shot beyond Andre Onana for the Champions League final winner against Internazionale Milano. In the league, Rodri finished the season with an impressive 301 recoveries, 184 duels won and a 61 per cent tackle success.
Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)
Before moving to Barcelona this summer, Gundogan played a vital role in Man City's 2022/23 Treble-winning season. His goals, assists and all-round general midfield performances helped Guardiola's side claim their famous Treble.
Gundogan scored the opening goal against Man Utd in the FA Cup final after 13 seconds and then struck the winner with another volley from outside the box. He was given the captain's armband for the majority of matches last season, leading by example throughout.
Bernardo Silva (Man City)
Typically a player that goes under the radar, the Portuguese is a tireless worker, happy to cover every inch of the pitch and close down the opposition players. Bernardo missed only six matches throughout City's season, scoring seven goals and assisting another six at club level.
Ruben Dias (Man City)
Overshadowed by Man City's talented attack, Guardiola's defence is the foundation on which their Treble success was built. Dias is very much one of their unsung heroes.
Although he struggled with injury last season, he was a driving force in the important moments to guide City to a historic 2022/23 campaign - the sign of a true leader.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Despite what was a disappointing season by Liverpool's recent standards, finishing in fifth place and outside the Champions League spots, Salah continued to excel.
The Egyptian scored 19 goals in the league, eight more than Roberto Firmino, Liverpool's second-highest scorer. Salah also provided 12 assists, ahead of second-place Trent Alexander-Arnold's total of nine.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
At the age of 22, Saka is one of football's most exciting young talents. The winger scored 14 goals and assisted a further 11 in 38 league matches across the 2022/23 campaign. Saka also made a club record 83rd consecutive appearance in Arsenal's 2-2 draw against Fulham.
Saka's sparkling form was rewarded with a string of awards including the PFA Young Player of the Year, being named in the PFA Team of the Year and England Men's Player of the Year. He also helped Arsenal beat Man City in the Community Shield.
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Odegaard looked to be leading Arsenal to their first Premier League title since the 2003/04 season until Man City powered through and pipped the Gunners.
The lack of a league title does not, however, take away from Odegaard's impact on the pitch. The midfielder scored 15 goals and assisted a further seven during the 2022/23 season as the Gunners' qualified for the Champions League for the first time in six years.
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Joining Argentina compatriot Alvarez on the list of nominees is Aston Villa's Martinez, whose World Cup goalkeeping heroics are alone deserving of a place on the Ballon d'Or shortlist. His saves during the tournament in Qatar earned Martinez the Golden Glove, while at club level, he helped Villa secure UEFA Europa Conference League football.
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Only once since 2017 has Kane not been nominated for the Ballon d'Or. The England striker has since moved to current Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, but he enjoyed one final prolific season with his boyhood club Tottenham Hotspur before making the switch.
In a season in which Haaland dominated the headlines, Kane scored 30 Premier League goals - a total that would have secured the Golden Boot award in 24 of the previous 31 seasons.
Kane also captained England to the quarter finals of the World Cup, where he scored one penalty and missed another in a 2-1 defeat to eventual finalists France.
Andre Onana (Man Utd)
Onana spent only one season with Inter, and it so nearly ended in Champions League glory. The goalkeeper, who is as good with his feet as he is with his hands, kept eight clean sheets during the Italian side's journey to the final.
His performances earned him a summer move to Man Utd and a Ballon d'Or nomination.
Josko Gvardiol (Man City)
Having made a name for himself at RB Leipzig, Gvardiol caught the attention of Man City with some exceptional World Cup performances, including when he was tasked with marking Messi for the semi-final between Croatia and Argentina.
Despite eventually losing out to Argentina in a thrilling match, centre-back Gvardiol was key to Croatia's bronze medal success in the tournament. Gvardiol opened the scoring against Morocco in the third-place playoff as his side went on to claim a famous 2-1 victory.
Yashin Trophy nominees
A further four players have been shortlisted for the Yashin Trophy, an annual award for the world's best male goalkeeper. The award is named after Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin, who is the only 'keeper to win the Ballon d'Or.
Martinez and Onana, who are also on the list for the main award, are joined by Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale and Ederson of Man City for the honour.
