Ballon d’Or Contenders Ranked: The Race To Be Crowned The World’s Best Player
The Ballon d’Or race is on following the conclusion of two of the world’s premier international tournaments.
Euro 2024 and the Copa America both came to a close on Sunday night after a month of games, and the stars from the tournaments will now recharge ahead of the new season.
Spain took the Euro 2024 title on Sunday when they got the better of England, with Mikel Oyarzabal breaking Three Lions hearts with a late goal to earn Spain their fourth European Championship.
In America, meanwhile, Argentina made it a World Cup and Copa America double with a narrow win over Colombia, with Lionel Messi once again lifting another major international trophy.
Mail Sport assesses some of the top contenders to lift the Ballon d’Or trophy at the end of the year.
- Toni Kroos
It would be quite something for Toni Kroos to lift the Ballon d’Or while no longer being an active player.
The German has called time on his career at the age of 34, depsite still being at the top level for both club and country and being one of the stars for Germany at Euro 2024.
He won his sixth Champions League title last season with Real Madrid as well as the LaLiga, so his achievements can’t be questioned, but it’s unlikley he will win the Ballon d’Or on this occasion.
Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed an offer is there for Kroos to continue playing next season if he changes his mind, but, for now, he wouldn’t even have a home stadium to present it in.
- Erling Haaland
Last year’s runner-up has had a bit of a quieter year. Admittedly that still means 33 goals for his club, but it’s not quite the 52 and Treble win he managed the season prior.
It feels inevitable that the Norwegian will one day win the illustrious individual trophy to go with the plethora of team accolades he already has, but it is unlikely that will be this year.
City came up short in the Champions League and stumbled to a league title. But he will go again this season.
- Phil Foden
Haaland’s club team-mate, Phil Foden, edges ahead of the forward after being named Premier League player of the season.
Now a City regular, Foden notched 19 goals and eight assists in the Premier League last season, as well as five goals and three assists in the Champions League.
City winning just the one trophy and a struggle at Euro 2024, however, suggests this year won’t be Foden’s year, however.
- Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe can never be truly written off, and he will probably be favourite to win next year’s Ballon d’Or after joining Real Madrid from PSG on a free transfer and being revealed on Monday.
He will now be part of a super team who will again be favourites to win the Champions League, but last season – a league title in France and a Euros semi-final – won’t be enough.
- Lionel Messi
It had seemed that Lionel Messi would lift his final Ballon d’Or last year when he won the award for the eighth time on the back of Argentina’s World Cup win.
The forward has dominated the award for the best part of 15 years alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, with one of the two players winning the trophy in all but three of the last 16 years, but his move to the MLS seemed to put an end to that era, with Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabia.
That was, however, until he won the Copa America. The Inter Miami man netted just one goal in five games in the tournament, but captained his side to another international success.
Nonetheless, Messi winning the Ballon d’Or trophy feels unlikely due to his contributions at club level.
- Lamine Yamal
A year ago, not many knew who Lamine Yamal was. Following his performances at Euro 2024, hardly anyone is left that doesn’t.
The now-17-year-old won the young player of the tourament award at Euro 2024 for his performances on the right wing for Spain, helping them to the title.
His stunning goal against France in the semi-final was a highlight, with his partnership with potentially soon to be Barcelona team-mate Nico Williams receiving widespread plaudits.
One day, Yamal winning the Ballon d’Or is a big possibility. But with Barcelona falling short in the Champions League and LaLiga, it feels unlikely that this year will be his time.
- Dani Carvajal
Dani Carvajal is the most prominent player who won both the Champions League and their international trophy this summer.
The right back was one of three Real Madrid players in the Spain squad for Euro 2024, alongside Nacho and Joselu, who were bit-part players, with Carvajal starting five of the seven games.
There were no Madrid players in the Argentina squad, meaning that, if the award was judged on team successes alone, Carvajal would be the front runner. For that reason, he cannot be ruled out of the running.
- Jude Bellingham
It is likely that Jude Bellingham would have been a shoe-in for the award had England won on Sunday, but that didn’t happen.
Having shone in his debut year with Real Madrid on his way to LaLiga and Champions League success, he had a difficult Euro 2024 and final, despite scoring twice in the tournament.
The England star remains among the contenders, but he may have to see how he gets on in the next couple of years if he wants to be the first Englishman to lift the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
- Rodri
The game’s new favourite player after Spain’s success on Sunday. Rodri has been the anchor for Spain and Manchester City for a number of years now and has shown his importance to both sides on a number of occasions.
He has lost just one game in 16 months – the FA Cup final – and has enjoyed another successful season at club and international level, winning the Premier League and Euro 2024.
Being crowned player of the tournament at Euro 2024 won’t hurt his cause, either.
A Champions League win may have guaranteed it. But, when the voting comes around, he may not even need that.
- Vinicius Jnr
Currently the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jnr was central to his sides’ successes in the last year.
He scored six goals on his way to Champions League success with Madrid – including one in the final – and also logged 15 LaLiga goals in 28 matches.
He has been central to Carlo Ancelotti’s side and, as the standout attacker for the best team, he has earned the favourite spot for later on this year.
Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Copa America, which could cost him, but it is very possible that the 24-year-old may win his first Ballon d’Or title.
