Lionel Messi will set a unique record if he wins the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time.

The nominees for the 2023 France Football award are being revealed on Wednesday, with Messi the favourite to win the gong once again.

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Karim Benzema picked up the prize for 2022 after a stunning year for Real Madrid and Messi wasn’t even in the final 30 after a difficult start to life at Paris Saint-Germain.

But the period for the 2023 Ballon d’Or is between August 1 2022 and July 31, which looks set to work brilliantly in Messi’s favour.

The Barcelona legend finished 2022 by finally guiding Argentina to a first World Cup since 1986, winning the Golden Ball after scoring seven goals, including a brace in the thrilling final against France.

He truly completed football and has since been running the show across the pond with Inter Miami, scoring 11 goals in as many games and firing them to the Leagues Cup.

Messi is the frontrunner for the prize but faces strong competition from Erling Haaland, who smashed in 52 goals in his debut, treble-winning season at Manchester City.

Leo Messi is the most nominated player in the history of Ballon Dor

The best player in the world has been named by 46 different athletes, but if Messi wins the award, he will be the first player from outside of Europe to do so.

Because he played for Paris Saint-Germain within the required time, he is still qualified.

The award was first given only to players from Europe, but in 1995 the regulation was altered to include all players who were active in Europe.

Diego Maradona received an honorary “Golden” Ballon d’Or 28 years ago. Greats like Pele and Maradona, who spent a significant portion of their careers in South America, never won the Ballon d’Or.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony, hosted by Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, will take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30.

“I have said it many times, the Ballon d’Or is very important due to the recognition at an individual level, but I never gave it importance,” Messi said on this year’s award.

“The most important thing for me was always the awards at the group level.

“I was lucky to have achieved everything in my career and after the World Cup, I’m thinking about that award much less, my biggest award was that and I’m disguising my moment.

“If it arrives, good, and if not, nothing happens. I was lucky to achieve all my goals in my career and now I have new goals with this club.”