The 30 players with a chance to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or, recognizing last season’s best male player in the world, have been revealed.
Real Madrid pair Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior are hot favourites, possibly just the fifth winner in the last 17 years, largely due to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s two-decade reign.
Both Bellingham and Vinicius won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid, scoring 23 and 24 goals respectively. Each was aiming for international success, but Bellingham’s England lost in the Euro 2024 final and Vini’s Brazil fell short in the Copa America.
Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal will all be among those hoping to finish high in the final rankings.
Many expected Messi to be selected after winning the Copa America with Argentina. But the 37-year-old was not on the shortlist. Ronaldo was also absent, as he did not win in 2023, making it the first time in 21 years that no one has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
The Ballon d’Or will be presented to the best male player on October 28 at the annual ceremony at the Theater du Chatelet in Paris.
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