That’s a tectonic change on the footballing terrain. For the first time in 23 years, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo is among Ballon d’Or nominees after the pair’s hegemony over football’s top individual prize ended on Monday. Their no-shows serve to underline the rise of a fresh breed in contention for the big gong.
The Ballon d’Or 2024 shortlist reflects this trend, as players from different leagues and clubs are now nominated for the award. The reasons they make so many compelling arguments for the award speak to both how much talent football currently has. With the sport evolving quickly, this year’s list is evidence of that.
Ballon d’or 2024 Trophy
The 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or 2024 are:
- Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
- Phil Foden (England, Manchester City)
- Ruben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City)
- Federico Valverde (Uruguay, Real Madrid)
- Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
- Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
- Nico Williams (Spain, Athletic Bilbao)
- Granit Xhaka (Switzerland, Bayer Leverkusen)
- Artem Dovbik (Ukraine, Roma)
- Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid)
- Vinicius Jr. (Brazil, Real Madrid)
- Dani Olmo (Spain, RB Leipzig/Barcelona)
- Florian Wirtz (Germany, Bayer Leverkusen)
- Martin Ødegaard (Norway, Arsenal)
- Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund)
- Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
- Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
- Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
- Vitinha (Portugal, PSG)
- Cole Palmer (England, Chelsea)
- Dani Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
- Bukayo Saka (England, Arsenal)
- Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey, Inter Milan)
- William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
- Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter Milan)
- Kylian Mbappe (France, Real Madrid)
- Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atlanta)
- Antonio Rudiger (Germany, Real Madrid)
- Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain, Bayer Leverkusen)
The Favorites of Ballon d’Or 2024
Read more Football News
The Favorites of Ballon d’Or 2024
The question on everyone’s lips when the nominees are revealed is: who will be the next Ballon d’Or winner? Although the competition is stiff, there are some clear favorites.
Since his move to east Manchester, Erling Haaland has been scoring goals for fun. His clinical finishing and powerful frame have made him a nightmare for defenders. And his part in City’s Premier League title and Champions League victory has placed him as the frontrunner. Haaland During The 2024/25 Season Haaland scored a stunning 52 goals in all competitions, including an unheard-of total of 36 Premier League strikes. The ability to average 1.12 goals per game is just unbelievable…
In addition to his goal-scoring prowess, Haaland has also contributed to Manchester City’s success with Haaland’s link-up play and ability to create chances for his teammates. His partnership with Kevin De Bruyne has been particularly lethal, and the two have formed a formidable duo.
Kylian Mbappé has continued to impress with his pace, skill, and goal-scoring ability. His performances for Paris Saint-Germain, both domestically and in Europe, have cemented his status as one of the world’s best players. In the 2023-2024 season, Mbappé scored 44 goals in all competitions for Paris Saint-Germain. Mbappe’s ability to score goals from all areas of the pitch makes him a nightmare for defenders.
Mbappé’s performances in the Champions League have been particularly noteworthy. His goals against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the competition’s knockout stages helped PSG reach the semifinals.
Vinicius Jr., the Brazilian winger for Real Madrid, has emerged as a serious contender for the Ballon d’Or 2024. His electrifying performances and Real Madrid’s success have solidified his position among the world’s elite players.
Vinicius Jr. has scored 23 goals and made 21 assists for the team. While Vinicius Jr. may not have the same goal-scoring numbers as Haaland or Mbappé, his impact on the game goes beyond just goals. His skill in creating chances and assisting his teammates has been invaluable to Real Madrid. His vision, passing, and crossing have helped set numerous goals for his teammates.
Find your Football Shoes:
All three players have had exceptional seasons and deserve consideration for the Ballon d’Or. Haaland’s goal-scoring record is unmatched, while Mbappé’s pace and skill have made him a global superstar. Vinicius Jr.’s creativity and chance-creation ability have been instrumental in Real Madrid’s success. The Ballon d’Or race is wide open, and it will be interesting to see who emerges as the winner.
