Football’s most prestigious individual award underwent a historic change in 2022, when France Football announced that the award would no longer be judged on a player’s exploits over the entire year.
Thus, two years ago, Karim Benzema became the first player in the history of the Ballon d’Or to win it based on his performances throughout a season.
The two greatest of modern times, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have dominated this award for the last decade and a half, with the former taking a record eighth award in 2023. However, this year, neither have been nominated for the award’s shortlist, the first time this has happened in 21 years.
This is how voting for the 2024 Ballon d’Or will work.
Ballon d’Or
The Ballon d’Or will have a new winner in 2024 after the end of the era of dominance of Messi, Ronaldo, Benzema and Luka Modric. This in itself is, perhaps, something worth celebrating.
The winners of the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid are the main candidates for the award, especially Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian star played a decisive role in Merengue’s success last season and scored in the final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
Jude Bellingham was named Player of the 2023/24 Season for Real Madrid and LaLiga, in addition to helping England reach the final of Euro 2024. Dani Carvajal, who also scored in the Champions League final, is a surprise but genuine candidate after also winning the European Championship with Spain.
Elsewhere, Manchester City players are likely to dominate the vote. Rodri is the biggest threat to Vini and Bellingham, guiding the Citizens to a fourth consecutive Premier League title and winning the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament award.
Women’s Ballon d’Or
Aitana Bonmatí has a good chance of revalidating her Women’s Ballon d’Or title in 2024, after winning the award for the first time last year. Two-time winner Alexia Putellas is also nominated, but is unlikely to complete her hat-trick.
Other Barcelona stars are calling for a lead, including Salma Paralluelo, who came third last year, and Caroline Graham Hansen.
Lyon’s Ada Hegerberg won the first Women’s Ballon d’Or in 2018 and is nominated for the award again this time.
Sam Kerr, who has finished in the top three for the last three years without a win, missed out on the nominations in 2024 after an injury-plagued season with Chelsea.
The winner of the Ballon d’Or is decided by 100 journalists from the 100 highest-ranked member countries of FIFA. Each journalist makes his or her top five selections from the list of 30 footballers, with each ranking getting a different point value/number of votes.
As expected, the player who scores the most points in the voting is named the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Having helped Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar 2022, Messi extended his incredible Ballon d’Or record by claiming an eighth award last October. The victory put him three ahead of his old rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
With the award canceled in 2020, Messi won three of the last four Ballon d’Or trophies awarded, and Saudi Al Ittihad forward Karim Benzema ended his streak in 2022.
Recent Ballon d’Or winners
Year |
Player |
Club |
---|---|---|
2023 |
Lionel Messi |
Paris Saint-Germain / Inter Miami |
2022 |
Karim Benzema |
real Madrid |
2021 |
Lionel Messi |
Paris Saint-Germain |
2019 |
Lionel Messi |
FC Barcelona |
2018 |
Luka Modric |
real Madrid |
2017 |
Cristiano Ronaldo |
real Madrid |
2016 |
Cristiano Ronaldo |
real Madrid |
2015 |
Lionel Messi |
FC Barcelona |
2014 |
Cristiano Ronaldo |
real Madrid |
2013 |
Cristiano Ronaldo |
real Madrid |
2012 |
Lionel Messi |
FC Barcelona |
2011 |
Lionel Messi |
FC Barcelona |
2010 |
Lionel Messi |
FC Barcelona |
Winners of the Women’s Ballon d’Or
Year |
Player |
Club |
---|---|---|
2023 |
Aitana Bonmatí |
FC Barcelona |
2022 |
Alexia Putellas |
FC Barcelona |
2021 |
Alexia Putellas |
FC Barcelona |
2019 |
Megan Rapinoe |
Reign FC |
2018 |
Ada Hegerberg |
Lyon |
More news about the Ballon d’Or
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