Ballon d'Or 2024: Mbappé's surprise, an unprecedented ranking announced

The 2024 Ballon d'Or is awarded this Monday, October 28. While Kylian Mbappé is expected, the coronation of one player is almost certain.

It's the big day for the 2024 Ballon d'Or! This Monday, October 28 at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, Lionel Messi will meet his successor. Frenchman Kylian Mbappé will not be crowned this year, but, despite the affairs around him and in particular the accusation of rape that he still has according to the Swedish press, he should be present with the delegation of Real Madrid composed in particular of Florentino Perez, Jude Bellingham or even and above all, Vinicius Junior.

The Brazilian, winner and scorer in the Champions League final, has been considered the big favourite for several weeks, to the point that the ranking is almost no longer in doubt for many observers. However, the Real Madrid striker had fierce competition with the Euro this summer and the coronation of Spain's young Lamine Yamal, Carvajal and Rodri, also champion of England. But with his Champions League, his Spanish championship and with 29 goals and 12 assists in 49 games, the Brazilian has a big head start. A Real hat-trick could be expected at the top of the rankings.

The Ballon d'Or will be designated this time by a jury of 100 international journalists (one from each country in the top 100 in the Fifa rankings). The new feature is that each voter will nominate 10 players in descending order, with the first receiving 15 points, the second 12, then 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point. This will make it possible to no longer have any players with zero points and to establish real differences. Another big change is that the winner will be informed live, like the spectators.

The nominees for the 2024 Golden Ball

• Jude Bellingham (ENG, 21 years old, Real Madrid)
• Hakan Çalhanoglu (TUR, 30, Inter Milan)
• Dani Carvajal (ESP, 32, Real Madrid)
• Ruben Dias (POR, 27 years old, Manchester City)
• Artem Dovbik (UKR, 27 years old, SK Dnipro-1/Girona/AS Rome)
• Phil Foden (ENG, 24 years old, Manchester City)
• Alejandro Grimaldo (ESP, 28 years old, Bayer Leverkusen)
• Erling Haaland (NOR, 24 years, Manchester City)
• Mats Hummels (ALL, 35 years, Borussia Dortmund)
• Harry Kane (ENG, 31 years old, Bayern Munich)
• Toni Kroos (GER, 34, Real Madrid/retired)
• Ademola Lookman (NGA, 26, Atalanta Bergamo)
• Emiliano Martinez (ARG, 32, Aston Villa)
• Lautaro Martinez (ARG, 27, Inter Milan) 
• Kylian Mbappé (FRA, 25 years old, Paris-SG/Real Madrid)
• Martin Ödegaard (NOR, 25 years old, Arsenal)
• Dani Olmo (ESP, 26 years old, RB Leipzig/FC Barcelona)
• Cole Palmer (ENG, 22 years old, Manchester City/Chelsea)
• Declan Rice (ENG, 25, Arsenal) 
• Rodri (ESP, 28, Manchester City)
• Antonio Rüdiger (ALL, 31 years old, Real Madrid) 
• Bukayo Saka (ENG, 22 years old, Arsenal) 
• William Saliba (FRA, 23 years old, Arsenal) 
• Federico Valverde (URU, 26 years, Real Madrid)
• Vinicius Jr (BRE, 24 years, Real Madrid)
• Vitinha (POR, 24 years old, Paris-SG) 
• Nico Williams (ESP, 22 years old, Athletic Bilbao) 
• Florian Wirtz (ALL, 21 years old, Bayer Leverkusen)
• Granit Xhaka (SUI, 31 years old, Bayer Leverkusen)
• Lamine Yamal (ESP, 17 years old, FC Barcelona) 

The Women's Ballon d'or

The nominees for the women's club of the year

• FC Barcelona (ESP)
• Chelsea (ENG)
• NY/NJ Gotham (USA)
• OL (FRA)
• PSG (FRA)

The list of nominees for coach of the year

• Sonia Bompastor (OL, Chelsea)
• Arthur Elias (Corinthians, Brazil)
• Jonatan Giraldez (FC Barcelona, ​​Washington)
• Emma Hayes (Chelsea, United States)
• Filip Patao (Benfica)
• Sarina Wiegman (England)

Nominees for the Men's Club Trophy of the Year

• Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
• Girona (Spain)
• Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
• Real Madrid (Real Madrid)
• Manchester City (England)

The nominees for the best coach trophy leader of a men's team

• Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen )
• Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
• Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
• Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta Bergamo)
• Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
• Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)

The nominees for the Yachine trophy for best goalkeeper

• Diogo Costa (Porto)
• Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
• Gregor Kobel (Dortmund)
• Andriy Lunin ( Real Madrid)
• Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
• Giorgi Mamardachvili (Valencia)
• Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
• Unai Simon (Bilbao)
• Yann Sommer (Inter Milan)
• Ronwen WIlliams (Mamelodi Sundowns)

The nominees for the Kopa Trophy for best U21 player

• Pau Cubarsi (Barça)
• Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
• Arda G&uuml ;ler (Real Madrid)
• Karim Konaté (RB Salzburg)
• Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
• Joao Neves (Benfica, PSG)< /li>
• Savihno (Girona, Manchester City)
• Mathys Tel (Bayern)
• Lamine Yamal (Barça)
• Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)

Latest updates

12:30 – New trophies appear

In addition to the men's and women's Ballon d'Or, the Kopa Trophy (best young player), the Yachine Trophy (best goalkeeper), the men's club of the year and the women's club of the year, the Gerd Müller (top scorer) and Socrates (social commitment) prizes will be the other trophies awarded during this gala evening. But for this 2024 edition, the distinctions of best coach of a men's team and best coach of a women's team are also making their appearance.

11:30 – Many absentees this year

The Ballon d'Or ranking will be unprecedented.  For the first time since 2003, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are absent from the list and they are not the only ones. Many stars are absent, here are a few in a list that is far from exhaustive: Rodrygo, Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Mike Maignan, Luka Modric, Neymar, Rafael Leao, Robert Lewandowski, Antoine Griezmann…

10:30 – Bonmati for a double in the women's category ?

Aitana Bonmati, winner in 2023, is the main favourite. If a Real hat-trick is expected in the men's category, a FC Barcelona hat-trick is expected in the women's category with Alexia Putellas and Salma Paralluelo also announced as serious contenders. She is a bit like the female version of “Iniesta”, Pep Guardiola had said in 2023 at about Bonmati.

09:30 – What is the number 1 criterion for the Ballon d'Or ?

The titles ? The goals ? Individual or collective performance ? The response from the editor-in-chief of France Football.

08:30 – A top 3 100% Real Madrid ?

It's no longer really a secret, even if France Football has changed its position. his method of revealing the winner during the live ceremony, Vinicius Junior should be crowned Ballon d'Or 2024, taking over from Lionel Messi. But the Real player might not be the only one on the podium since his teammate Jude Bellingham, author of an excellent season last year at club level or with the English selection, could finish 2nd. Dani Carvajal, seriously injured, could complete the podium unless we see the surprise Mbappé on the latter, but it is unlikely. The Frenchman may have trouble reaching the top 5. Rodri, Haaland or even Lamine Yamal could overtake him.