Table of Contents
The top players from men’s and women’s football will gather in Paris on Monday for the presentation of the 2024 Ballon d’Or. This will be the 68th edition of the gala event that has been awarded to the best footballers by French publication France Football since 1956 . It is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual award that any footballer can aspire to win. Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati are the current top prize title holders in both categories, but the Inter Miami man is not on this year’s shortlist and so cannot hope to defend his eighth crown.
Here’s how to watch the ceremony and more:
How to watch
Who are the men’s nominees?
It was expected that Manchester City and Norway’s Erling Haaland, as well as Real Madrid and France’s Kylian Mbappé – who will be judged on his Paris Saint-Germain form following his summer transfer – would replace Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the two dominant powers. of world football in terms of men’s individual awards. However, that hasn’t happened yet and while both are shortlisted, neither is expected to win, with Haaland’s City teammate and Spanish international Rodri and Mbappe’s Real colleague and Brazil international Vinicius Junior also in contention. Given the lack of a clear candidate in club and international football, the men’s field is wide open this year and features a host of England internationals with Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, Real’s Jude Bellingham, City’s Phil Foden and Arsenal’s duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka as well as Chelsea player Cole Palmer. There are also a number of foreign Premier League stars, such as City’s Portuguese international Ruben Dias, Aston Villa’s Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and the Gunners duo Martin Odegaard of Norway and William Saliba of France. It is also important to note that eight-time winner Messi and five-time champion Cristiano Ronaldo have not been nominated at all, which is a first since 2003.
Who are the nominated ladies?
Defending champion Bonmati of Barcelona leads the way for the women’s prize, but there is a host of talent based in the United States also in contention, including U.S. women’s national team stars Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith and Alyssa Naeher, as well as Barbra Banda of Zambia and Tarciane from Brazil. American Lindsey Horan from Olympique Lyonnais in France is also in the mix, while Barca’s contingent of Patricia Guijarro, Caroline Graham Hansen, Salma Paralluelo and former winner Alexia Putellas also technically includes Mariona Caldentey – who has since joined Arsenal – and Lucy Bronze . now from Chelsea – as well as recent signing Ewa Pajor from VfL Wolfsburg. England internationals Lauren James and Lauren Hemp are also present.
How are the winners chosen?
The awards are chosen by an international jury of journalists from the top 100 of the FIFA men’s world football rankings, with each individual selecting 10 players. The order of merit determines how many points each choice receives, ranging from 15 to a single point, with the player who scores the most points winning the Ballon d’Or. A full ranking of the top 30 players will be published in the run-up to the final three names being announced.
Who won the men’s and women’s prize last year?
Messi is a record eight-time winner and current title holder in the men’s category, but he is not eligible to defend that title this year. Bonmati won her first crown in 2023 in the women’s category, which was only introduced in 2018, and is in the field to defend that title.
Who is the men’s favorite?
Vini Jr. is expected to of Real will win the men’s prize for the first time, although there is no clear and obvious candidate in club and international football this year. The Brazil international won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League with Los Blancos last season, scoring 24 goals with 11 assists in all competitions, including one of the two goals that helped Carlo Ancelotti’s side win the final 2-0 against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. However, the 24-year-old’s international claims are much weaker with just two goals in nine appearances this year, including an early exit in the Copa America quarter-final. City and Spain midfielder Rodri is another candidate with the injured 28-year-old key for Pep Guardiola and La Roja’s Premier League winners as they won UEFA Euro 2024, making him named player of the tournament. Bellingham also has a model based on his Real form with 23 goals from 42 games and he was part of the England squad that was beaten by the Spaniards in the European Championship final in Germany this summer.
Who is the ladies’ favorite?
Bonmati will be keen to win the women’s prize again to defend her crown, while the World Cup winner is enjoying another strong season with Barcelona, who won their fifth consecutive Liga F title in Spain and also reached the Champions League final won against Lyon, where she scored and won player of the tournament. Spain also won the UEFA Nations League earlier this year, with Bonmati scoring 2-0 against France. Barca teammate Caroline Graham Hansen is competing for that award with 21 goals and 19 assists in Liga F and a role in the UCL team of the tournament alongside Bonmati, while OL’S Kadidiatou Diani, Barca’s Salma Paralluelo and USWNT’s Mallory Swanson who led the Stars and Aiming for Olympic gold in Paris this summer.
Are there any other categories?
In addition to the men’s and women’s prizes, there are a number of other prizes available, including the Kop Trophy for the best young talent under 21, which has been won in the past by the likes of Mbappe and Bellingham. The Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, men’s and women’s head coach of the year is also recognized, as well as the Gerd Muller Trophy for the top scorer, men’s and women’s clubs of the year and the humanitarian Socrates Prize.