Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious award in the football world that gathers the world's best players under one roof.
The 2023 Ballon d'Or is already in the past. Erling Haaland came in second, but Lionel Messi became victorious. Third was Kylian Mbappe.
Messi had an incredible year, winning the World Cup 2022 with Argentina and joining Inter Miami. He also won the award for a record eighth time.
After joining Manchester City in the summer of 2022, Haaland had a stellar season, making him one of the favorites to win the prize. The Norwegian broke multiple records, scored a ton of goals, and won the treble with City, which included the Champions League title.
After yet another fantastic season with both club and country, Mbappe finished third. Mbappe advanced to the final with France, where he finished second after losing to Argentina. Ligue 1 title earned while at PSG
Who are the favorites to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or? Let's take a look at the top 20 list of players who could compete for the award in 2024 due to their form throughout the year.
While the race for the Ballon d'Or 2024 award is ongoing, The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 ceremony took place on January 15.
UEFA to team up with Groupe Amaury to co-organise the Ballon d’Or 2024
It has been announced that UEFA and Groupe Amaury have teamed up to co-organise the prestigious Ballon d'Or starting in 2024. The goal of this partnership, as stated on UEFA's official website, is to enhance the awards' global reputation and foster unity within the football community.
Under this agreement, Groupe Amaury will continue to own the Ballon d'Or brand and maintain control over the existing voting system, which will remain independent and unaltered. Meanwhile, UEFA will apply its football expertise, handle global commercial rights, and oversee the annual awards ceremony.
Furthermore, two new awards will be introduced to honor the top male and female coaches of the year. The existing trophy categories and their names, including Men's Ballon d'Or, Women's Ballon d'Or, Kopa Trophy (best player under 21), Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer in the previous season), Men's Club of the Season Trophy, Women's Club of the Season Trophy, and the Sócrates Award (for humanitarian work), will remain unchanged.
Ballon d'Or 2024 Power Rankings May by Vbet News (With Odds)
#1 Vinicius Jr. (2.25)
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Brazil
Club stats in 2023/24:
Games: 39
Goals: 24
Assists: 11
Trophies:
UEFA Champions League
Spanish Super Cup
Spanish La Liga
Image Source: Getty Images
Vinicius Jr. has had a crucial presence in the Real Madrid squad during the 2024/25 season, forming a significant partnership with Jude Bellingham as they pursued success in La Liga and in the Champions League.
The Brazilian international scored one of the winning goals in the Champions League final. Unfortunately, he couldn't reach high results in Copa America.
Vinicius' role was also notable in Real Madrid's Super Cup win as the attacker scored two important goals against Barcelona in the final of the domestic competition.
All these pure stats as well as the player's leadership skills make him a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or trophy.
#2 Rodri (2.50)
Club: Manchester City
Country: Spain
Club stats in 2023/24:
Games: 50
Goals: 9
Assists: 14
Trophies:
UEFA Super Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
English Premier League
Euro 2024
Image Source: Getty Images
Rodri is currently one of the brightest names in the world of football due to his outstanding performances for Manchester City and the Spain national team.
The defensive midfielder plays a key role in the squad and has many times proved to be the game changer if needed.
Rodri has had an unbeaten streak since February 2024 both with his club and national team. His latest contribution came with Spain as they lifted the trophy, while he was named The Player of the Tournament.
#3 Jude Bellingham (5.00)
Club: Real Madrid
Country: England
Club stats in 2023/24:
Games: 42
Goals: 23
Assists: 13
Trophies:
UEFA Champions League
Spanish Super Cup
Spanish La Liga
Image Source: Getty Images
Jude Bellingham is one of the highly rated and most wanted players in the world right at the moment.
The midfielder, who proved to be a real deal in the World Cup 2022, has decided his next destination for future improvement as he continues his playing spell at Real Madrid starting from the 2023/24 season.
For his contribution to the team, Bellingham has already won five Man of the Match awards with Real Madrid and four Man of the Match awards with the England national team so far this season. He is proving to be one of the promising stars of the time and one of the favorites to win the Ballon d'Or award not only for his display with Los Blancos but also after helping the England national team secure their spot in the Euro 2024.
Bellingham played another impressive game for Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona, with Los Blancos lifting the trophy after a 4 - 1 win. He also helped the team throughout the season to win another La Liga title.
Furthermore, Real Madrid lifted the Champions League trophy for the 15th time in the club's history by beating Borussia Dortmund in the final of the tournament.
Bellingham won the Kopa Trophy during the Ballon d'Or 2023 and was ranked 18th. He also received the Golden Boy 2023 award after his brilliant season with Borussia Dortmund.
#4 Dani Carvajal (11.00)
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Spain
Club stats in 2023/24:
Games: 41
Goals: 6
Assists: 5
Trophies:
UEFA Champions League
Spanish Super Cup
Spanish La Liga
Euro 2024
Image Source: Getty Images
Dani Carvajal has been one of the significant figures in Real Madrid's Champions title race and in other competitions during the 2023/224 campaign.
The 32-year-old was the one who opened the score for Los Blancos in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund. His contribution has also seen Carlo Ancelotti's side lifting the La Liga title.
The Spain international showcased his class during the European Championship as well, helping the team to win the tournament.
#5 Lamine Yamal (19.00)
Club: Barcelona
Country: Spain
Club stats in 2023/24:
Games: 60
Goals: 7
Assists: 10
Trophies:
Euro 2024
Image Source: Getty Images
Lamine Yamal's performances continue to live up to the expectations of their passionate supporters. Being the youngest ever football to take part in Euro 2024 with Spain, he proved to be a great force in the team's success.
During this journey one thing remains certain: the 17-year-old is a rising star within Barcelona's ranks, and his potential could significantly contribute to the team's success in the next seasons.
This young talent played a pivotal role in Spain's European Championship performances, receiving the award of the Young Player of the Tournament.
#6 Lionel Messi (21.00)
Club: Inter Miami
Country: Argentina
Club stats in 2023/24:
Games: 14
Goals: 13
Assists: 11
Trophies:
Copa America
Image Source: Getty Images
Lionel Messi, another football legend, continues to shine even after leaving European football and joining the MLS team, Inter Miami. So far he has recorded 11 goals and five assists for his club this term.
Despite a recent muscle injury, Messi was selected for the Argentina squad. He not only started the game but also scored his 30th and 31st goals in World Cup qualifying matches, establishing himself as the all-time leading scorer in South American World Cup qualifying history.
With the recent news of UEFA's role in organizing the upcoming Ballon d'Or, there's a possibility that Lionel Messi might no longer be among the top candidates to secure another Ballon d'Or award. UEFA's participation in the organization could potentially not favor players who do not participate in UEFA-sponsored competitions.
After his successful spell with PSG and the Argentina national team, Messi received both the Ballon d'Or 2023 and The FIFA Best Men's Player awards.
#7 Kylian Mbappe (31.00)
Club: PSG
Country: France
Club stats in 2023/24:
Games: 48
Goals: 44
Assists: 10
Trophies:
French Ligue 1
Coupe de France
Image Source: Getty Images
The 24-year-old star shows incredible stats with PSG and his national team. He was France's hero in the World Cup final, helping the team to fight until the last moment.
The French professional continues to be the hero of his national team at the European level as France now compete in the Euro 2024 qualifiers and are one of the favorites to win the tournament after booking a spot in the final stage of the tournament with the help of Mbappe.
Mbappe played a crucial role in PSG's season and is set to leave the club in the summer of 2024 as the Ligue 1 Player of the Year. The French star played his last game on May 12, saying goodbye to the club fans. He is reportedly set to join Real Madrid.
#8 Lautaro Martinez (34.00)
Club: Inter Milan
Country: Argentina
Club stats in 2023/24:
Games: 44
Goals: 27
Assists: 7
Trophies:
Italian Serie A
Supercoppa Italiana
Coppa America
Image Source: Getty Images
Lautaro Martinez has garnered significant attention recently because of his impressive displays for both Inter and the Argentina national team.
The forward remains in excellent form, contributing to Inter's success in both domestic and European competitions with a remarkable record of 11 goals and two assists in 10 matches. Martinez finished 20th in the Ballon d'Or 2023.
The Argentina international's latest contribution to the Champions League came in Inter Milan's meeting with Real Sociedad, with the two sides playing a goalless draw.
Martinez played a crucial role in the final of Supercoppa Italiana, with the attacker's only goal securing the domestic title for the team. He also helped the team to secure the Serie A title.
#9 Nico Williams (34.00)
Club: Athletic Bilbao
Country: Spain
Club stats in 2023/24:
Games: 44
Goals: 27
Assists: 7
Trophies:
Copa del Rey
Euro 2024
Image Source: Getty Images
Nico Williams is a highly sought-after player during this summer transfer window following his eye-catching performances in the Euro 2024.
While Spain maintained their impressive run in the Euros, Williams firmly established himself as a key contributor in this journey.
The young star's potential for a higher position in the Ballon d'Or rankings is mainly enhanced due to his incredible stats with Atheltic Bilbao and notable success with his national team in Euro 2024.
#10 Phil Foden (41.00)
Club: Manchester City
Country: England
Club stats in 2023/24:
Games: 53
Goals: 27
Assists: 12
Trophies:
UEFA Super Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
English Premier League
Image Source: Getty Images
Phil Foden could be considered one of the most pivotal players globally at the moment.
His instrumental role in Manchester City's crucial games this season has been remarkable, and he continues to be a significant force that could assist the Sky Blues in overcoming their challenges.
Additionally, Foden contributes to England's strong run in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Who is most likely to win the Ballon d'Or 2024?
As per recent performance trends and according to the Vbet.com odds, Vinicius Jr. is currently the frontrunner for winning the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
The attacker has made a significant impact as a key player for Real Madrid, and his prospects received a considerable boost after Los Blancos succeed in clinching the La Liga and Champions League titles.
Can Messi win the Ballon d'Or 2024?
Messi's performance at Inter Miami may not lead to noteworthy success in the Ballon d'Or rankings.
Nonetheless, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner stands a better chance of reclaiming the prestigious award after his national team, Argentina, lifted the Copa America trophy.