The wait is almost over, as the nominees for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award will be announced today, September 4, 2024 at 18:20 CET. The annual award, which recognizes the best player in the world, will be presented at a gala ceremony on October 28, 2024, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
Men’s Category
This year’s men’s category is expected to be highly competitive, with several top players vying for the coveted prize. Among the top contenders are:
– Rodri (Manchester City): The 28-year-old Spanish midfielder has been instrumental in Manchester City’s success, scoring 12 goals and providing 15 assists last season.
– Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid): The 24-year-old Brazilian forward has had an impressive season, scoring 26 goals and providing 12 assists as Real Madrid won the Champions League and La Liga.
– Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid): The 25-year-old French forward has been in exceptional form, scoring 52 goals last season and leading Paris Saint-Germain to the Champions League semi-finals.
– Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid): The 20-year-old English midfielder has had a stellar first season at Real Madrid, earning plaudits and silverware.
– Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): The 19-year-old Spanish forward has already made a name for himself at Barcelona, scoring a wonder goal against France in the Euro semi-finals.
Women’s Category
The women’s category, introduced in 2018, has seen a rise in competitiveness, with several top players vying for the prize. Among the top contenders are:
– Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona): Last year’s winner is favored to win again, after helping Barcelona to another league title.
– Lindsey Horan (Lyon): The American midfielder has had an exceptional season, captaining her side to Olympic gold and scoring 12 goals with 8 assists.
– Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars): The American forward has made a impressive return from injury, scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists in just 6 games.
– Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns): The American forward has been nominated before and could well prove popular this time around.
– Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona): The Norwegian forward has had an exceptional season, scoring 33 goals with 26 assists.
New Categories
This year, two new categories have been introduced: Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year. These categories recognize the top coaches in the world, who have made significant contributions to their teams’ success.
Voting Criteria
The votes for the Ballon d’Or are cast by 100 invited journalists from around the world, who consider the following criteria:
– Individual performance, decisiveness, and impressiveness
– Collective performance and track record
– Class and fair play
The Ballon d’Or is considered one of the most prestigious individual honors in football, and this year’s nominees and winners will be closely watched by fans around the world.