Arsenal’s young stars Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Aaron Ramsdale gained recognition on a global scale, each earning their first-ever nominations for top footballing honours making the Ballon d’Or lists.
Their contributions played a crucial role in Arsenal’s bid for the Premier League title in the 2022/2023 season.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard received their first-ever nominations for the Ballon d’Or, the leading men’s football award that has been distributed since 1956.
Both Arsenal players earned their nominations due to their pivotal roles in propelling the club towards a competitive position in the 2022/2023 Premier League campaign.
Saka finished in 24th place while Arsenal’s captain was 28th.
Remarkably, Manchester United’s Andre Onana finished above Saka.
Aaron Ramsdale was also nominated for the first time for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world’s best goalkeeper.
His nomination came on the back of remarkable performances between the posts for Arsenal during the same season. Ramsdale finished eighth in the final tally for the Yashin Trophy.
The final results of the Ballon d’Or saw Lionel Messi winning for the eighth time in his career. His latest victory came after he clinched his first-ever World Cup winner’s medal last winter.
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe followed in second and third places respectively.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the recipient of this year’s Yashin Trophy. Martinez played a crucial role in helping Argentina secure their third global championship following a penalty shoot-out in a dramatic final against France in Qatar.
Manchester City’s Ederson and Yassin Bounou were the runners-up for the Yashin Trophy.
In the women’s Ballon d’Or, Amanda Ilestedt and Katie McCabe finished in 15th and 22nd positions respectively.
Aitana Bonmati, the Barcelona and Spain forward, won the award while Chelsea’s Sam Kerr cam second with Barlocena’s Salma Paralluelo in third.
Despite not winning, the nominations for Saka, Odegaard, and Ramsdale highlight the strong performances that have been a hallmark of Arsenal’s last 12 months. It reflects well not just on the individuals but also serves as an indicator of the positive trajectory that the club is on.