PARIS, Oct 29: All eyes of the global soccer community are firmly fixed on the Chatelet Theater in Paris, France. They eagerly anticipate the grand spectacle of the latest Golden Ball Awards ceremony.

This edition of the prestigious award has ignited intense excitement across all corners of the football world. It is set to witness an ardent contest for the most coveted accolade in the sport—the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the world's finest player.

In the previous edition of 2022, Frenchman Karim Benzema claimed the title, propelled by his remarkable achievements with Real Madrid during the 2021-2022 season when he clinched both the Spanish League and Champions League titles.

However, it seems that the accolade's honor in this year's edition will surpass even that achievement, as Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has left an indelible mark with his national team, positioning him at the forefront of contenders for this prestigious award.

At the age of 36, Messi is back in fierce contention for the title, having led Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022. This historic triumph occurred 36 years after the nation's second World Cup win in 1986, with the legendary Diego Maradona as the star of the team. Messi played a pivotal role in securing the title, undoubtedly meriting the Golden Ball for the best player in the 2022 World Cup. He also finished as the second-highest goal scorer in that tournament, notching 7 goals.

Just two months after his World Cup triumph, Messi was bestowed with the "Best" award by FIFA for the world's top player in 2022. He further claimed the French League title with Paris Saint-Germain before moving to his current club, Inter Miami. He continued his winning streak, securing the "League Cup" championship and the title of top scorer in this edition, along with the Best Player Award.

However, Messi is poised to face formidable competition from several other players vying for France Football magazine's Ballon d'Or award, with Norwegian striker Erling Haaland leading the pack. Haaland accomplished a historic treble last season, triumphing in the English League, the Cup, and the European Champions League with his team.

The ceremony will also feature the presentation of two other prestigious awards: the "Kopa" for the best young player and the "Yashin" for the best goalkeeper. The nominees in both categories comprise 10 outstanding individuals, making it challenging to predict the eventual winners, given the remarkable talent among these nominees.

While Messi aims to solidify his legacy by winning the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time, Haaland dreams of clinching this prestigious award for the very first time. Despite the many formidable names among the 30 candidates, including Kylian Mbappe, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Julian Alvarez, and Victor Osimhen, their chances of outshining Messi and Haaland may prove to be a daunting task.