Exciting times are ahead as the Theater du Chatelet in Paris prepares to host the prestigious Ballon d’Or on October 28, where a new winner will be crowned, marking a new era in men’s football.
The stage is set for a thrilling showdown between top contenders. Leading the pack are Brazilian sensation Vinicius Junior, who made his mark with a goal in Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph, and Spanish maestro Rodri, who played pivotal roles in Manchester City’s success and the Spanish national team’s triumphs.
If Vinicius Junior, 24, claims the award, he will be the first player born in the 21st century to achieve this honor. Equally remarkable, Rodri would be the first winner born in the 1990s, with neither of them born later than December 1987. This marks a significant shift from the dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have collectively dominated the Ballon d’Or for the past 15 years.
Messi, Ronaldo, Modric, and Benzema hail from the mid-to-late 1980s era, having established their legacies from a young age. However, as they enter the twilight of their careers, a new generation of superstars is emerging, including Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and others, reshaping the landscape of the sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, both born in 1985, competing in 2009 — both are still playing in 2024 (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
However, there seems to be a void in recognition for a group of players born in the mid-1990s. Despite their potential peak years, they find themselves in the shadows, lacking the profile, recognition, and representation at the top levels of European football.
While the Ballon d’Or awards serve as a notable benchmark for individual performance, a closer look at the rankings reveals an interesting trend. Players born between 1994 and 1997, notably Rodri and Bernardo Silva, have struggled to secure top spots, highlighting a gap in recognition and profile for this age group compared to their younger counterparts.
Bernardo Silva, born in 1994 and 1996’s Rodri have been key to City’s successes (Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
This begs the question of what might be causing this disparity. Could it be evolving market dynamics favoring younger talents or changing playing styles dictating new trends in player recognition and development?
On a broader scale, the age group born in the mid-1990s seems to be caught in a transitional phase, struggling to break through and carve out a distinct identity within the footballing landscape.
How do you think this transition impacts the future of football and the recognition of players from the mid-1990s age group?
