The prestigious Ballon d'Or is more than just an award—it's an example of the hard work and skill of the world's greatest players. Each year, the rankings spark talk and debate about the dazzling players who have left their mark on the pitch. As the soccer community anticipates the next recipient of the award, we dive into the stories behind the rankings.
With the Euros and Copa America over, the Ballon d'Or rankings are starting to take shape. Players like England's Jude Bellingham and Brazil's Vinicius Junior have been favorites to win the award. However, will an unspoken "underdog" swoop in for a shocker win? Let's dive into the top 10 candidates to date.
No. 10) Lamine Yamal
The 17-year-old has sparked major talk after his Euro 2024 run. After Pele, the Spaniard became the youngest player to play a major final, breaking the 66-year-old record. Yamal credited seven matches, one goal, and four assists in Euro 2024 and won the Young Player of the Tournament award. The talented youngster plays a vital role for his club and country.
No. 9) Harry Kane
It is no doubt that Harry Kane is one of the best strikers we've seen. After his move to Tottenham, it was evident. In his debut year for the German giants, he recorded 51 goals and 14 assists in the 2023-2024 season. However, his performance in the Euros did not help his rankings. Despite reaching the finals, Kane was nowhere to be seen as he got subbed out in the final. His ranking was higher before the Euros, but after, it has undoubtedly gone down.
No. 8) Toni Kroos
German Toni Kroos is a certified Real Madrid legend. His final season with the Spanish giants saw him secure another La Liga title, Champions League title, and Spanish Supercup title, putting his name in the top-10 Ballon d'Or rankings. Kroos recorded one goal and 12 assists. Despite his retirement, Toni Kroos is a legend that won't be forgotten.
No. 7) Phil Foden
Englishmen Phil Foden had a spectacular season with Premier League champions Manchester City, recording 28 goals and 12 assists. With Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland missing a portion of the season, Foden stepped up and won Premier League Player of the Year. However, those performances were non-existent in the Euro 2024. Like teammate Harry Kane, Phil failed to make an impact in England's run to the final. However, he stamped his name with his marvelous year with Manchester City.
No. 6) Lionel Messi
Winning his second consecutive Copa America has brought Leo Messi back into the Ballon d'Or rankings. Despite playing in the MLS, which is evidently less quality than European competition, he is still Lionel Messi. The Argentine recorded 28 goals and 17 assists, winning the League Cup with Inter Miami in his first year. This was Inter Miami's first trophy. With the odds stacked against him, Leo looks to win his ninth Ballon d'Or.
No. 5) Kylian Mbappe
In 2023-2024, the Frenchman recorded 52 goals and 21 assists. He was also Paris Saint Germain's most significant impact when they won Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Trophee des Champions. Mbappe made a shocking move to Real Madrid for the 2024-2-25 season, which has made him the favorite to win the Ballon d'Or next year. France's performance was a surprise, as Spain was disappointed in the semifinals.
No. 4) Dani Carvajal
Winning the Ballon d'Or as a defender is uncommon; the last player to do that was Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. However, Carvajal is no shocker to the rankings this year. He recorded seven goals and eight assists in the 2023-2024 season, winning Euro 2024, the Champions League, La Liga, and the Spanish Supercup. Adding to those stats, the veteran full-back also had 21 clean sheets. His big moments for Real Madrid were evident as he opened up the scoring in the Champions League final. He was also on the scoresheet for Spain in Euro 2024.
No. 3) Jude Bellingham
Credited as the best footballer in the world when he started for Real Madrid, Bellingham recorded 27 goals and 17 assists in the 2023-2024 season. He also played a massive role when Los Blancos won La Liga, the Champions League, and the Spanish Supercup. His scoring was evident, but the impact became huge when he netted IMPORTANT goals. He helped knock Manchester City out of the Champions League, and he was the star when he scored a goal in stoppage time to beat rival FC Barcelona in El Clasico.
Bellingham then repeated his performances for England in Euro 2024, scoring a worldly overhead kick against Slovakia to keep England in the tournament. Many thought he would've secured his first Ballon d'Or by beating Spain in the final. However, things did not go as planned for Gareth Southgate's side.
No. 2) Vinicius Junior
Brazilian winger Vini Jr. recorded 26 goals and 12 assists in the 2023-2024 season. He was vital in Real Madrid's Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Supercup titles. In the UCL semifinal, Vini starred in both legs of Real Madrid's matches versus Bayern Munich. He also went and made Wembley his backyard by scoring the second goal in the final versus Borussia Dortmund. However, despite starting well for Brazil in Copa America, he picked up a suspension that ruled him out of Brazil's match versus Uruguay, which they lost.
No. 1) Rodri
In the 2023-2024 season, Spanish Rodri recorded 12 goals and 15 assists. He also won the Euro 2024, Premier League, Club World Cup, and UEFA Supercup. Many refer to him as the best midfielder in the world currently, as teammate Kevin de Bruyne has suffered from many injuries. Rodri had an outstanding Euro 2024 despite exiting early in the final due to injury, and he was accredited as the Player of the Tournament. Picking up this award has put his name above that of more popular players in the rankings. Many think he does not have the PR to win the prize. However, his stats were higher than Modric's when the Croatian won the Ballon d'Or in 2018.
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