The path to the Ballon d'Or is becoming clearer, as on Tuesday the finalists for each of the awards were announced. It should come as no surprise that the reigning winners of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain and World Cup winners Spain are well represented in the rankings, while Rose Lavelle and Lily Yohannes are the only Americans nominated for any awards at all. After winning the Ballon d'Or eight times, Lionel Messi is nominated yet again as he could claim the award on the back of securing an MLS Cup with Inter Miami and coming in as a runner-up with Argentina during the World Cup.
For the first time, the award ceremony will take place outside of Paris, with it taking place at the London Palladium Theater. We'll find out the winners on Monday, October 26, but for now, let's take a look at who the nominees for each award are
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