FIFA 23 has hit shelves around the world and the latest edition of the Ballon d'Or is just a few days away - it's an exciting time to be a football fan.

Both the release of EA Sports' flagship game and the hosting of France Football's most prestigious prize are key moments every year when it comes to wider perceptions regarding the best players in the world.

Just as supporters eagerly anticipate who will be awarded the highest rating on every FIFA game, fans are always keen to see who will get their hands on the coveted Ballon d'Or trophy.

FIFA and the Ballon d'Or

Now, as far as 2022 is concerned, we already have a pretty good idea about how things are stacking up with the quintet of Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski all given the highest rating of 91 for men's players on FIFA 23.

Plus, it seems a pretty open-and-shut case that Benzema will be taking home the Ballon d'Or on October 17, becoming just the second player other than Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the prize since 2007.

So, that's all pretty widely agreed, but what about 2023, 2024 and so on? Well, hold that thought, because perhaps FIFA 23 can help us when it comes to looking even further into the future.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Rayo Vallecano - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 15, 2018 The Ballon d'Or trophy inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Juan Medina

As you no doubt already know, the 'Career Mode' function allows gamers to maraud into the future of football and the game has its own version of the Ballon d'Or that reveals the best male player of each year as you work through your save.

Therefore, it's always fascinating to take a look at what the FIFA algorithm throws up as each year's Ballon d'Or winner when somebody simulates a 'Career Mode' deep into the future.

FIFA 23 predicts Ballon d'Or winners

And courtesy of YouTuber 'Maestro', we've been able to do exactly that as he worked his 'Career Mode' all the way up to 2036, revealing who the FIFA gods garlanded as the best male player every year along the way.

Intrigued? Of course you are, so be sure to check out the full video down below, but also keep scrolling to see our breakdown of who won the Ballon d'Or between 2022 and 2036.

Video: YouTuber simulates Ballon d'Or winner up to 2036

2022 winner: Kylian Mbappe

Let's skate over this pretty quickly, because we know that the actual ceremony won't play out like this with FIFA naming Messi as one of the final four candidates despite him not having been nominated at all in real life.

2023 winner: Kylian Mbappe

Let's dive into the future now, though, where it's much of the same as Mbappe bests Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Vinicius Junior to claim his second Ballon d'Or crown.

2024 winner: Erling Haaland

But alas, Mbappe doesn't have it all his own way as Haaland - joined by two of his Manchester City teammates in Phil Foden and Ousmane Dembele - bags his first Ballon d'Or, which hardly seems like a controversial prediction based on how he's started this season.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - October 2, 2022 Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates scoring their sixth goal with Erling Braut Haaland and completing his hat-trick REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

2025 winner: Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe returns to his throne by exacting revenge on Haaland, who once again takes his place amongst the finalists, but this time alongside Ansu Fati and Dusan Vlahovic.

2026 winner: Erling Haaland

However, remarkably, Mbappe doesn't find himself in the final four despite 2026 proving a World Cup year and instead, it's Haaland who fires back in what feels like the makings of quite the footballing dynasty.

2027 winner: Erling Haaland

Three in a row! That puts Haaland alongside Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten in the exclusive club of players to have won a hat-trick of Ballon d'Or plaques.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - October 2, 2022 Manchester City's Erling Braut Haaland celebrates after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

2028 winner: Kylian Mbappe

But if you think that Mbappe is finished, then you're very much mistaken because he moves to four Ballon d'Or trophies by claiming victory over Vlahovic, Joao Felix and Darwin Nunez, who still finds himself at Liverpool.

2029 winner: Kylian Mbappe

Make it five! Remarkably, a 33-year-old Kai Havertz still in the blue of Chelsea competed amongst the finalists.

2030 winner: Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe, now in his thirties and still having rejected Real Madrid's flirtation by staying at PSG, moves ahead of Ronaldo in the all-time rankings with a sixth Ballon d'Or gong.

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v OGC Nice - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - October 1, 2022 Paris St Germain's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

2031 winner: Erling Haaland

However, just when you think that one of these two is dominating beyond belief, the pendulum swings again with Haaland defeating yet more nominations for Mbappe, Foden and Fati.

2032 winner: Kylian Mbappe

It's history! A 33-year-old Mbappe, rated at an astonishing 95 on the game, draws level with Messi on seven Ballon d'Or trophies for a record that - at this point - must see him breathing down the necks of Pele and Diego Maradona in the GOAT debate.

2033 winner: Ansu Fati

At long, long last we have a winner other than Mbappe or Haaland with Fati clearly having enjoyed a stellar career at Barcelona as he finally turns multiple appearances in the final four to the Ballon d'Or victory that his consistency warranted.

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Sociedad v FC Barcelona - Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastian, Spain - August 21, 2022 FC Barcelona's Ansu Fati celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Vincent West

2034 winner: Gil Alves

Who??? We've now gone so far into the future that a fictional player named Alves - potentially a Ronaldo regen - has won the Ballon d'Or while playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Madness.

2035 winner: Maciek Kaczmarek

Another year, another regen with the suspected second coming of Lewandowski getting his hands on the Ballon d'Or as a 92-rated forward at RB Leipzig.

2036 winner: Erling Haaland

However, in a stunning twist, the 36-year-old Haaland makes it five Ballon d'Or titles for an uncanny situation where he finishes up on as many gongs as Ronaldo, while Mbappe winds up with as many as Messi.

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A Ronaldo vs Messi-like dynasty

Well, well, well, it looks like we have another Ronaldo vs Messi dynasty on our hands.

While, obviously, the FIFA algorithm is never going to be the most accurate way of predicting the future in world football, it's not from without the realms of possibility that Haaland and Mbappe will dominate in a similar style to their predecessors.

Dare we say that it would be a little more interesting to see a few different winners as opposed to yet another lengthy duopoly, but when the players in question are as good as Haaland and Mbappe, then perhaps it's inevitable that they'll dominate.

However, that's just what FIFA thinks, so be sure to let us know how you see the future of the Ballon d'Or panning out across our various social channels.