The 2023 Ballon d'Or is set to be the focal point of attention on October 30, with the global footballing community eagerly awaiting to discover the recipients of the top honours presented by France Football.
Despite other significant individual accolades, such as the FIFA Best Awards, the Ballon d'Or has maintained its status as a unique and esteemed acknowledgement of player excellence since its inception in 1956.
The awards ceremony will once again be held at the illustrious Parisian venue, the Theatre du Chatelet. During this ceremony, various awards will be presented, including the Ballon d'Or Féminin (for female players), the Kopa Trophy, and the Yashin Trophy.
The event will be hosted by former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, adding an exciting element to the proceedings. It's worth noting that Lionel Messi is a frontrunner for the main Ballon d'Or award and is poised to potentially secure his eighth win, setting a new record in the history of the award.
The Sporting News takes a look at what time the ceremony will get underway in the French capital, plus details on how you can watch, including for free in India.
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What time is Ballon d'Or 2023?
The Ballon d'Or ceremony will involve huge media attention before it starts and the ranking of players from No. 11 through to No. 30 will be revealed on official Ballon d'Or social media accounts in the build-up to the formal start.
The ceremony is due to begin at 8:30 p.m. local time in Paris on Monday, October 30, which translates to 1:00 a.m.
The winner is expected to be confirmed around 30 minutes after the scheduled start.
| Date | Start time | Winner Announced | |
| India | Tue Oct. 31 | 1:00 a.m. IST | 1:30 a.m. IST |
How to watch the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony
The 2023 Ballon d'Or is a streamable event, with the familiar face of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba presenting.
L'Equipe will stream the ceremony via their YouTube channel, while broadcasters around the world will be showcasing the event live.
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| India | Sony TEN 2 | Sony LIV, JioTV |
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