Jude Bellingham is widely expected to be among the top nominees for the Ballon d'Or this year, thanks to his stellar performances for both club and country.
The young English midfielder had an exceptional 2023/24 season, contributing significantly to his team's successes in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League in his debut year at Real Madrid.
His teammate, Vinicius Jr, is also anticipated to be in contention for the prestigious award, setting up a head-to-head between the pair in the voting.
Another standout candidate is Rodri from Manchester City, who played a key role in Spain's Euro 2024 title win and was integral to City's fourth consecutive Premier League triumph.
The competition among these top players promises to make this year's award an exciting one, especially given Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are likely to be out of the running — perhaps indefinitely.
The Sporting News takes a look at Bellingham's numbers throughout last season and why they make him a top Ballon d'Or contender.
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Jude Bellingham stats 2023-24
Bellingham registered 27 goals and 15 assists in all competitions for Real Madrid and England in 2023/24, including at the European Championship.
| Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win percentage | Goals Scored | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 28 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 75% | 19 | 6 |
| UEFA Champions League | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 63.6% | 4 | 5 |
| Supercopa de Espana | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 0 | 1 |
| Copa del Rey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 |
| European Qualifiers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% | 0 | 0 |
| International Friendlies | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33% | 2 | 1 |
| Euro 2024 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 42.8% | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 54 | 35 | 15 | 4 | 64.8% | 27 | 15 |
Bellingham himself has admitted he's not too bothered about the award and when asked a few months ago about the possibility of winning it, he said: "I'm not really too fussed about it. I always felt that those awards were for strikers and wingers, the flashy players.
"I know I can entertain the crowd but no-one can do it like Vini. When he is at his best, he's the best player in the world."
Jude Bellingham trophies, finals 2023-24
Bellingham won three trophies with Real Madrid in 2023/24: La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Supercopa de Espana (Spanish Super Cup).
He was a runner-up with England at Euro 2024, the Three Lions losing 2-1 to Spain in the final. Bellingham scored key goals against Serbia and Slovakia in the tournament.
| Competition | Finish |
|---|---|
| La Liga | Winners |
| UEFA Champions League | Winners |
| Supercopa de Espana | Winners |
| Copa del Rey | Round of 16 |
| Euro 2024 | Runners-up |
When is the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony?
The 2024 Ballon d'Or gala is due to be held on Monday, October 28, 2024 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
The ceremony is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET).