The Barcelona champion in the running for the Ballon d'Or

Why it matters

Gavi's bid for the Ballon d'Or represents significant recognition for Barcelona's young talent, who has already proven his worth at both club level and with the Spanish national team. His inclusion among the top candidates highlights the importance of his recent performances, especially after Spain's success at the World Cup. Furthermore, the competition with other high-profile players such as Jude Bellingham and Lionel Messi makes his candidacy even more fascinating.

Context

Gavi, Barcelona midfielder, has already won the Golden Boy in 2022 and is now considered one of the best young talents in world football. His performances with the Spanish national team, particularly after the World Cup victory, have helped place him among the favorites for the 2023 Ballon d'Or. His ability to influence matches and accumulate points could prove decisive in the race for the prestigious award.

Key points

  • The Barcelona champion in the running for the Ballon d'Or.
  • Barcelona talent, Gavi, is in the running to win the Ballon d'Or, but will face tough competition.
  • Barcelona superstar in contention to win the Ballon d’Or but he has a tough challenger.
After Spain's imperious performance at the World Cup and their eventual victory, it is likely that a Spanish player could win the Ballon d'Or this year. Shortly after Spain's victory, in fact, the prestigious award for the best player in the world was awarded to Gavi, a young talent from Barcelona and the national team. Gavi, who has already won the Golden Boy in 2022, has been included by Diverse, a well-known site that deals with statistical analysis for football, in the list of the 10 most highly rated players for winning the Ballon d'Or in 2023. According to Diverse, Gavi occupies seventh position in this special ranking, preceded by players of the caliber of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Rodri, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka. However, the most surprising news is that Gavi would be in the running for the Ballon d'Or also thanks to his performances in the national team, given that the analysis site expects the Barcelona midfielder to score 52 points thanks to his performances with the national team, a total that would place him in fourth place among national team players, surpassed by Messi, Haaland and Rodri. But what are Gavi's performances with the national team that could guarantee him so many points? As reported by Diverse, Gavi should score 52 points thanks to 3 goals and 4 assists in the 13 games played after the World Cup, to which are added the points obtained for the 4 appearances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, for a total of 12 appearances, and also the points that the young midfielder will score thanks to his performances in the next Nations League matches, given that Spain is still in the running to win the competition. Gavi, who has also been called up for the friendly matches in October, should play at least 6 matches, 2 friendlies and 4 Nations League matches, to further increase his number of appearances with the national team. The boy, however, will also have to watch out for another young talent who plays in another club, given that Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid midfielder, has also been linked to the possible victory of the 2023 Ballon d'Or. Bellingham, according to the website Diverse, is placed in fifth place in the ranking of the most highly rated players for winning the 2023 Ballon d'Or and could even score more points than Gavi for his performances with the national team. Bellingham is expected to score 57 points for his performances with the national team, of which 32 points would come from his 10 appearances for the national team, in which the midfielder would have totaled 8 goals and 3 assists. Added to these 10 appearances are another 4 official appearances, given that like Gavi Bellingham has also been called up for the October friendlies and for the Nations League matches, and it is expected that Bellingham will increase his number of appearances with the national team reaching 14 total appearances.

What happens now

With Gavi currently in the running for the Ballon d'Or, he is expected to continue to shine with both Barcelona and the national team. His performances in the upcoming matches will be crucial to consolidate his position in the candidate rankings. Furthermore, the comparison with other emerging talents such as Bellingham, who is doing well with Real Madrid, will make the competition for the prize even more intense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is in the running for the Ballon d'Or?

Gavi, a young talent from Barcelona and the Spanish national team, is in the running for the Ballon d'Or.

What are Gavi's performances that make it a candidate?

Gavi scored 3 goals and 4 assists in the 13 games played after the World Cup, as well as 4 appearances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Who confirmed Gavi's candidacy for the Ballon d'Or?

Gavi's candidacy was confirmed by Diverse, a well-known football statistical analysis site.

Why is Gavi considered a strong candidate now?

Gavi is considered a strong candidate now thanks to his outstanding performances with the Spanish national team and his placement in the list of the 10 most highly rated players for the Ballon d'Or.

What changes could influence the race for the Ballon d'Or?

The next Nations League matches could influence the race for the Ballon d'Or, as Gavi will have the opportunity to accumulate further points.

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