Two of Manchester United’s summer arrivals, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund, have been shortlisted for awards at this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The prize, presented by France Football, is deemed one of the most prestigious accolades in the sport, awarded to the player deemed to be the best on the globe over the course of the season.
There are both male and female categories for this coveted trophy, with United’s Mary Earps and new signing Hinata Miyazawa up for the latter - find out full details here.
As well as the headline honours, the Yashin Trophy - named after the legendary Russian star Lev - will be presented to the standout goalkeeper of 2023.
The ceremony will take place on 30 October at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, with United’s Onana and Hojlund both among the nominees.
Onana, who recently revealed he will be returning to international duty with Cameroon, has been shortlisted for not one but two honours.
The 27-year-old reached the Champions League final with Internazionale and further cemented his reputation as a goalkeeper who can contribute with raking passes and composed footwork, earning him a spot on the Ballon d’Or shortlist alongside the likes of World Cup=winner Lionel Messi and French superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Our goalkeeper is also among the nominees for the aforementioned Yashin Trophy, with Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Manchester City’s Ederson also on the shortlist.
Hojlund, who arrived from Atalanta in the summer, has been rewarded for an impressive year in Serie A, and for Denmark, with a spot on the shortlist for the Kopa Trophy.
This honour is awarded to the best performing Under-21 player in 2022/23, with Real Madrid new boy Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga among Rasmus’s competitors on the 10-man list.
United’s 20-year-old striker is the only current Premier League player to be nominated for the Kopa Trophy.
Andre and Rasmus’s recognition on the shortlists for these awards is well-deserved, and we wish them both the best of luck ahead of October’s ceremony.
