When will the nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or be revealed? Who are the top contenders for the award and when will the ceremony take place?
The anticipation for the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards is building, as football’s elite await to see if they will be immortalized in sporting history. The nominees for footballer of the year will be announced tomorrow, and it seems that the usual suspects, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, may not be the frontrunners this time around.
For the first time in a long time, other superstars are staking their claim for the prestigious prize. The votes are cast by 100 journalists from around the world, who consider criteria such as individual performance, collective performance, and fair play.
In addition to the men’s award, there are also two new categories for Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year.
Among the contenders for the men’s Ballon d’Or are Manchester City’s Rodri, who had an impressive season with 12 goals and 15 assists, and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., who contributed 26 goals and 12 assists to his team’s success in both the Champions League and La Liga.
Kylian Mbappe, now playing for Real Madrid, had a remarkable season with 52 goals and will likely be difficult to ignore in the nominations. Another potential nominee is Jude Bellingham, who had a stellar first season at Real Madrid and further solidified his status as one of the best in the business with his performances for England.
Lamine Yamal, a Spanish teenager who impressed at Barcelona and scored a wonder goal against France in the Euro semi-finals, may dominate the Ballon d’Or in the coming years.
In the women’s category, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati, last year’s winner, is a favorite once again after helping her team to another league title. Lindsey Horan, an American superstar who captained her side to Olympic gold in Paris, has also had a brilliant season with 12 goals and eight assists for Lyon.
Mallory Swanson, who made a strong comeback from a knee injury, impressed in Paris with four goals and two assists for the US. Sophia Smith, who has been nominated before, could also be a popular choice with the voting committee after her strong performances for the Portland Thorns.
Caroline Graham Hansen of Barcelona, with 33 goals and 26 assists, was one of the standout performers in the Champions League final and could be a strong contender for the award.
Come October, Barcelona could dominate the podium with their roster of talented players. The excitement is building as the football world eagerly awaits the announcement of the nominees and the ultimate winner of the Ballon d’Or.