The highly anticipated Ballon d'Or season is upon us once again as the football world prepares to celebrate the best players for their exceptional performances over the past year.
The 2024 edition is shaping up to be historic, as the list of nominees, released on Wednesday, September 4, has stirred excitement and intrigue.
While expected names like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe, and Rodri headline the 30-man shortlist, it is the inclusion of Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman and Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal that has captured significant attention. Lookman, who made waves with his Europa League hat trick, and Yamal, the breakout star and Best Young Player at Euro 2024, have earned their spots among the world’s elite footballers for the first time.
The final ceremony is set for October 28 in Paris, where the football community will witness the crowning of a new Ballon d'Or winner. Early favourites have already emerged as fans speculate who will dethrone Lionel Messi, the current holder and an eight-time winner of the prestigious award.
Messi’s exclusion from the shortlist marks a notable shift. The Inter Miami star failed to secure a spot despite winning another Copa America in the summer.
The 2024 shortlist considers standout performances at both the club and international levels, particularly in major tournaments like the UEFA Euros and Copa America. With players vying for the sport's highest individual honour, this year’s competition is fierce.
Vinicius Jr. is among the top contenders, having played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s UCL-winning season, while his teammate Jude Bellingham’s stellar debut campaign at the Bernabeu has also attracted attention. Manchester City’s Rodri, fresh off winning the Premier League and starring for Spain in their Euro 2024 triumph, is another strong candidate.
As fans debate who will take home the coveted trophy, the football world will wait in suspense until October 28 to find out. Here is the full list of nominees for the 2024 Ballon d'Or:
Full list of 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees:
1. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
2. Phil Foden (Manchester City)
3. Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
4. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
5. Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
6. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
7. Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
8. Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
9. Artem Dovbik (Roma)
10. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
11. Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid)
12. Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig/Barcelona)
13. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
14. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
15. Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
16. Rodri (Manchester City)
17. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
18. Declan Rice (Arsenal)
19. Vitinha (PSG)
20. Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
21. Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
22. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
23. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
24. Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan)
25. William Saliba (Arsenal)
26. Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
27. Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
28. Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
29. Kylian Mbappe (PSG/Real Madrid)
30. Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen).
Can La Masia star Lamine Yamal live up to the hype after Euro 2024 explosion?
Meanwhile, TheRadar previously spotlighted Spanish youngster Lamine Yamal who lit up Euro 2024 with his stellar performances, scoring one goal and bagging four assists.
The global recognition that followed his performance in Germany made critics wonder whether he would truly live up to the hype or flatter to deceive.
