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France Football has announced the nominees for its Ballon d’Or prizes with a trio of Americans in the running for the women’s prize and Karim Benzema the hot favorite to take the prestigious men’s trophy.
This year’s Ballon d’Or will make history, being the first to be awarded for performances over the course of a season rather than a calendar year. As such it appears inevitable that Benzema, Madrid’s standout performer on their run to European glory, will receive the men’s prize.
For much of last season Sadio Mane had looked like being the most likely rival to Benzema’s crown and the former Liverpool forward is one of a host of representatives from Anfield on the 30 strong list of nominees, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah. And while the two most likely winners might no longer ply their trade in England, the Premier League is extremely well represented with 15 representatives making up a full half of the total list. Whoever wins, 2022 marks the end of an era as Lionel Messi, who has won the award seven total times, including the last two, and three of the last six, is not nominated.
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In the Ballon d’Or Feminin the USA have the second-most representatives on the 20 strong shortlist with Catarina Macario, Alex Morgan and Trinity Rodman in the mix. Only France with four are more garlanded whilst European champions England by Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead. Chelsea forward Sam Kerr and…
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Source : cbssports
