The 2024 Ballon d'Or is set to be one of the most exciting in recent years. The award, presented by France Football, is given annually to the best men's footballer in the world.
Over the years, modern legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the award, with Messi winning it a record eight times.
Since 2008, just two players other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the Ballon d'Or, with the two superstars having won all but two of the prizes over a 15-year period.
Now, with Messi and Ronaldo unlikely to win this year's award given they play in lower-status leagues outside of Europe, the 2024 winner will have an advantage in establishing himself as the leading light of the next generation.
As we approach the 68th ceremony, new contenders are emerging. The Sporting News has all the details.
When is Ballon d'Or 2024?
The 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony will be held on Monday, October 28, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. This will be the 68th edition of the award, which has been a hallmark of football excellence since its inception.
The nominees were announced on September 4, 2024, giving fans and pundits plenty to speculate about in the lead-up to the event.
For the first time, UEFA will co-organize the Ballon d'Or gala with France Football. This year's ceremony will also introduce two new awards: Men's Coach of the Year and Women's Coach of the Year, recognizing the critical role coaches play in their teams' successes.
The ceremony is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET).
Who will win Ballon d'or 2024?
The race for the 2024 Ballon d'Or is heating up, with several top players making strong cases for the prestigious award.
Below are some of the leading candidates to win the men's Ballon d'Or in 2024.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- In 2023/24: 51 goals, 14 assists.
Harry Kane's move to Bayern Munich was supposed to end his long wait for a major trophy. Despite Bayern finishing without silverware, Kane had a phenomenal season, scoring over a goal per game in the league. Although his efforts took a toll, evident in his laboured performances at Euro 2024, Kane's goal scoring record keeps him in the running for the Ballon d'Or.
Rodri (Manchester City)
- In 2023/24: 12 goals, 15 assists. Won Premier League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Euro 2024
Rodri has been a cornerstone for Manchester City, demonstrating his importance as the world's best defensive midfielder. His crucial goals and assists, especially the one sealing the Premier League title, have caught the eyes of fans and voters alike. Rodri's leadership was also vital for Spain at Euro 2024, leading them to the final with key performances and a decisive goal against Georgia in the last 16.
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
- In 2023/24: 52 goals, 20 assists. Won Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophee des Champions.
Kylian Mbappe's final season at Paris Saint-Germain was spectacular, with his goals securing a third consecutive Ligue 1 title. Despite PSG's Champions League semifinal exit and Mbappe's struggles at Euro 2024 due to a broken nose, his overall performance makes him a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or. His move to Real Madrid adds another layer of excitement to his bid.
Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid)
- In 2023/24: 26 goals, 12 assists. Won Champions League, La Liga, and Supercopa de Espana.
Vinicius Jr. overcame early-season injuries to deliver an outstanding campaign for Real Madrid. His hat-trick in the Spanish Super Cup final and key performances in the Champions League, including a goal in the final, highlight his impact. However, his suspension at Copa America and Brazil's subsequent exit might hinder his chances, leaving room for other contenders.
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- In 2023/24: 27 goals, 16 assists. Won Champions League, La Liga, and Supercopa de Espana.
Jude Bellingham has had a remarkable first season at Real Madrid, with crucial goals and stellar performances. Despite a dip in form due to injuries and suspensions, Bellingham bounced back with key contributions in the Champions League and El Clasico. His performances for England at Euro 2024, including a dramatic overhead-kick goal against Slovakia, further solidified his Ballon d'Or candidacy.
How is the Ballon d'Or decided?
The Ballon d'Or winner is decided through a meticulous voting process. The shortlist of nominees is compiled based on their performance over the season, from August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024. A panel of journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings for men and the top 50 for women then cast their votes.
Each journalist selects their top five players from the shortlist. Points are awarded as follows: six points for first place, four points for second, three points for third, two points for fourth, and one point for fifth. The player with the most points at the end of the voting process wins the Ballon d'Or.
In 2022, the voting criteria were updated to focus on three main factors:
- Individual performance during the European season.
- Team success.
- Player behavior and fair play.
Previous Ballon d'Or winners
Below is a list of all players who have won the Ballon d'Or since it's inception.
A reminder, the award was also only eligible to European-born players until 1995 when that rule was changed, opening up the award to all players contracted by European clubs. From 2007, any player in any league in the world could be nominated.
| Player | Winner(s) | Second place | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi (Argentina) | 8 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023) | 5 (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) | 1 (2007) |
| Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | 5 (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) | 6 (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2018) | 1 (2019) |
| Michel Platini (France) | 3 (1983, 1984, 1985) | 2 (1977, 1980) | |
| Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) | 3 (1971, 1973, 1974) | 1 (1975) | |
| Marco van Basten (Netherlands) | 3 (1988, 1989, 1992) | ||
| Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany) | 2 (1972, 1976) | 2 (1974, 1975) | 1 (1966) |
| Ronaldo (Brazil) | 2 (1997, 2002) | 1 (1996) | 1 (1998) |
| Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain) | 2 (1957, 1959) | 1 (1956) | |
| Kevin Keegan (England) | 2 (1978, 1979) | 1 (1977) | |
| Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany) | 2 (1980, 1981) | 1 (1979) | |
| Luis Suarez (Spain) | 1 (1960) | 2 (1961, 1964) | 1 (1965) |
| Eusebio (Portugal) | 1 (1965) | 2 (1962, 1966) | |
| Bobby Charlton (England) | 1 (1966) | 2 (1967, 1968) | |
| Raymond Kopa (France) | 1 (1958) | 1 (1959) | 2 (1956, 1957) |
| Gerd Muller (West Germany) | 1 (1970) | 1 (1972) | 2 (1969, 1973) |
| Zinedine Zidane (France) | 1 (1998) | 1 (2000) | 1 (1997) |
| Gianni Rivera (Italy) | 1 (1969) | 1 (1963) | |
| Ruud Gullit (Netherlands) | 1 (1987) | 1 (1988) | |
| Lothar Matthaus (Germany) | 1 (1990) | 1 (1991) | |
| Roberto Baggio (Italy) | 1 (1993) | 1 (1994) | |
| Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) | 1 (1994) | 1 (1992) | |
| Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) | 1 (2004) | 2 (1999, 2000) | |
| George Best (Northern Ireland) | 1 (1968) | 1 (1971) | |
| Allan Simonsen (Denmark) | 1 (1977) | 1 (1983) | |
| Ronaldinho (Brazil) | 1 (2005) | 1 (2004) | |
| Stanley Matthews (England) | 1 (1956) | ||
| Omar Sivori (Italy) | 1 (1961) | ||
| Josef Masopust (Czechoslovakia) | 1 (1962) | ||
| Lev Yashin (Soviet Union) | 1 (1963) | ||
| Denis Law (Scotland) | 1 (1964) | ||
| Florian Albert (Hungary) | 1 (1967) | ||
| Oleg Blokhin (Soviet Union) | 1 (1975) | ||
| Paolo Rossi (Italy) | 1 (1982) | ||
| Igor Belanov (Soviet Union) | 1 (1986) | ||
| Jean-Pierre Papin (France) | 1 (1991) | ||
| George Weah (Liberia) | 1 (1995) | ||
| Matthias Sammer (Germany) | 1 (1996) | ||
| Rivaldo (Brazil) | 1 (1999) | ||
| Luis Figo (Portugal) | 1 (2000) | ||
| Michael Owen (England) | 1 (2001) | ||
| Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic) | 1 (2003) | ||
| Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) | 1 (2006) | ||
| Kaka (Brazil) | 1 (2007) | ||
| Luka Modric (Croatia) | 1 (2018) | ||
| Karim Benzema (France) | 1 (2022) |