16 Predictions for football in 2023

Let's get into it

New year, new predictions. I reviewed last year’s attempts yesterday, which came out… mixed. Will I do better this year? You’ll only have to wait 12 months to find out!

Fortunately, you don’t have to wait any time at all to read my predictions. Let’s get into it.

1. Lionel Messi will win the Ballon d’Or

I don’t think this one is too difficult to call. The voters love seeing the big trophies and they love a good narrative. Lionel Messi has that in spades. We were probably a penalty shootout away from Kylian Mbappé winning the big prize, but them’s the breaks.

Yes, Erling Haaland is going to keep scoring a lot of goals. I think the only way this potentially becomes interesting is if Manchester City win the Champions League with Haaland delivering the goods in the later stages. But even then, I don’t think the voters will be able to resist the romance of Messi “completing” his career.