The 2024 Ballon d’Or will be the 68th annual ceremony of the most prestigious individual accolade a footballer can receive. This award recognizes the best footballers in the world and the impact each player had in the 2023/24 season.
For the third time in the history of the award, it will be given based on the results of the season instead of the calendar year. This period is from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024. The ceremony will take place on 28 October and nominees will be announced on 4 September 2024.
1. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid and Brazil)
Brazil’s Copa America quarter-final exit to Uruguay came as a shock to most fans and pundits alike, which threatened to ruin his chances of securing football’s most coveted individual prize this year. Vinicius Jr was Real Madrid’s star man during the 2023-24 campaign alongside England’s Jude Bellingham, playing a pivotal role as the Spanish giants won both La Liga and the Champions League.
No Real Madrid player scored more goals during the Champions League campaign than the gifted South American winger. His sixth and final goal came at Wembley in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund as Carlo Ancelotti’s side secured a 2-0 win in London – and a record-breaking 15th European Cup.
Vinicius Junior for Real Madrid in 2023/24 (All Competitions)
Games: 39
Goals: 24
Assists: 11
2. Rodri (Manchester City and Spain)
In the most recent Ballon d’Or rankings, Rodri came fifth, but there is an argument to suggest he should have finished higher. After all, he may well be the most important player in the Manchester City team – and potentially even the world’s best footballer.
Man City lost every Premier League game he missed last term. He’s potentially more important to Pep Guardiola than Haaland. Instrumental for his country, too, Rodri deservedly won the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament award after Spain beat England in the final to lift the famous European Championship trophy in Berlin. Spain is now the most successful nation with 4 European trophies.
Rodri for Manchester City in 2023/24 (All Competitions)
Games: 50
Goals: 9
Assists: 14
3. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England)
Jude Bellingham will almost certainly be on the podium for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award. After the 21-year-old made a huge summer move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, it would have been understandable if it took him some time to settle in. But, of course, this isn’t just any normal footballer.
The boy from Birmingham arrived in Spain and took on Zinedine Zidane’s famous number-five shirt for Los Blancos as if it were his birthright. The winner of the 2023 Kopa Trophy has scored so regularly in Madrid – including that match-winning brace against rivals Barcelona on his Clasico debut – Cristiano Ronaldo might one day have to be worried about his records with the club. Now a La Liga and Champions League winner, expect to see Bellingham in the mix for the Ballon d’Or, especially after *that* overhead kick goal for England against Slovakia during Euro 2024.
Jude Bellingham for Real Madrid in 2023/24 (All Competitions)
Games: 42
Goals: 23
Assists: 13
4. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid and France)
It feels a little surprising that Kylian Mbappe doesn’t have a Ballon d’Or to his name already after all the accolades he has received at just 25 years old. In 2018, Mbappe won the World Cup and was voted FIFA World Cup Best Young Player, he then went on to win French Player of the Year as well as the Kopa Trophy award. The French captain netted a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final as France fell just short at the final hurdle against Argentina in Qatar.
On top of that, he has consistently scored goals and won titles in his homeland with Paris Saint-Germain. And yet, it feels as though the winger may need to achieve Champions League glory if he is to win the Ballon d’Or. His chances of winning the European Cup may improve dramatically next season following his move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe for PSG in 2023/24 (All Competitions)
Games: 48
Goals: 44
Assists: 10
5. Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan and Argentina)
Going purely off league form during the 2023-24 season, there are very few across the globe who have played better football than Martinez in recent months. With 24 Serie A goals and six assists to his name, the Argentine helped Inter Milan secure a 30th league title, culminating with a win over arch-rivals AC Milan.
The 26-year-old has continued his fine form into the Copa America, where he secured the top scorer award with five goals, including the winner in the final against Colombia. As a result of that extra-time winning goal, Martinez’s chances of making the Ballon d’Or podium have improved dramatically.
Lautaro Martinez for Inter Milan in 2023/24 (All Competitions)
Games: 44
Goals: 27
Assists: 7
Written by Marc Strydom.