When it comes to naming the best player in the world, the Ballon d’Or is the ultimate arbiter. Since 1956, France Football magazine has been crowning the top footballer of the year, and on Wednesday night, the nominees for the 2024 men’s award were revealed.
The shortlist of 30 players includes some big names, all vying for the coveted title. The winner will be decided by a panel of journalists and announced on October 28.
Now that we know who’s in the running, it’s time to evaluate the choices. Four writers from The Athletic offer their opinions on the Ballon d’Or nominations for this year.
Most Surprising Inclusion
Ademola Lookman’s stellar performance in the Europa League final and Africa Cup of Nations caught everyone’s attention. However, his inconsistent form throughout the season raises questions about his nomination.
Mark Carey
GO DEEPER
Ademola Lookman on his Europa League heroics with Atalanta and scoring ‘for the streets’
Vitinha and Dani Olmo also raise eyebrows with their nominations, given the competition they face and their performance levels over the season.
Seb Stafford-Bloor
Dani Olmo joined Barcelona from RB Leipzig this summer (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Emiliano Martinez’s nomination also raises questions, considering his achievements and performance level.
Laia Cervello Herrero
Most Unfortunate Player Left Off
Serhou Guirassy’s impressive goal-scoring record makes his exclusion surprising, while players like Jamal Musiala and Lukas Hradecky had strong cases for inclusion.
Mark Carey
Players like Mats Hummels and Virgil van Dijk were notable omissions, with their performances warranting a place on the list. Julian Alvarez also deserved a mention for his contributions.
Seb Stafford-Bloor
Tim Spiers
Laia Cervello Herrero
Predictions for Top Three
Rodri, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior are favored to finish in the top three.
Mark Carey
Vinicius Jr, Rodri, and Erling Haaland are expected to make the cut for the top three positions.
Seb Stafford-Bloor
Players like Dani Carvajal, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe are also contenders for the top three spots.
Tim Spiers
Laia Cervello Herrero
Who Will Win and Who Should Win?
Many believe Rodri is the deserving winner this year for his consistent and influential performances. He has been a standout player for both Manchester City and Spain.
Mark Carey
Rodri is the preferred choice for many, despite the likelihood of Vinicius Jr winning. The debate continues on whether midfielders are undervalued in the award.
Seb Stafford-Bloor
GO DEEPER
Why Rodri winning the Ballon d’Or would be both good and bad news for Manchester City
Tim Spiers
For many, Rodri is the rightful winner this year, given his contributions to Manchester City. Despite the competition, his impact on the team stands out.
Laia Cervello Herrero
The Ballon d’Or shortlist: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Phil Foden (Man City), Ruben Dias (Man City), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Erling Haaland (Man City), Nicolas Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), Artem Dovbyk (Roma), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), Mats Hummels (Roma), Rodri (Man City), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich),…
(Top photos: Getty Images)
