The Ballon d’Or 2024 will take place on October 28 in Paris, with Vinicius Jr and Rodri as the top two favourites to win this year’s award.
The 68th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held tonight, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. This year is significant as it will be the first time in two decades that neither Lionel Messi (winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or) nor Cristiano Ronaldo is nominated for the award, thus concluding their era of dominance.
According to the latest rankings as of Monday afternoon, Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Junior and Manchester City midfielder, Rodri are in the top two positions, competing fiercely for this year’s title after delivering outstanding performances for both club and country throughout the 2023-24 season.
Event Details
- Date: October 28, 2024
- Time (IST): The ceremony will commence at 1:15 AM IST (October 29 midnight)
- How to Watch in India: Fans can watch the event live on the SonyLIV app and Sony Ten networks.
- Global Timings of the event:
- USA: October 28, 3:45 PM ET
- Canada: October 28, 3:45 PM ET
- UK: October 28, 7:45 PM GMT
- CET: October 28, 8:00 PM CET
Ballon d’Or 2024: Preview
The absence of Messi and Ronaldo signifies not just a shift in nominations, but a potential transition to a new era in football. After being shared by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for 13 of the past 16 years—eight for Messi and five for Ronaldo—this year’s awards provide a unique opportunity for fresh talent to shine.
This is also the third time in the history of the award that it has been given based on the results of the season instead of the calendar year. Experts have highlighted the significance of this moment, suggesting it marks the end of one of sport’s most compelling rivalries. As football author Jonathan Wilson stated, “As we consider the future, the question arises: what rivalry could match the intensity of Messi and Ronaldo?”
A new rivalry between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe appears to be brewing, with both players featuring in this year’s top 10 nominees, setting the stage for an exciting chapter in football history.
Top 3 Favourites
The competition for this year’s Ballon d’Or is highly competitive, with players across the top European Clubs vying for the top through their consistent performances during the season spanning from August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024. As per current trends, the three primary contenders for this year are listed below:
1. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
- 2023-24 Season Stats
- Goals: 24 in all competitions (15 in La Liga, 6 in UEFA Champions League)
- Assists: 11 in all competitions
- Vinicius was instrumental in Real Madrid’s success, helping them secure the 2023-24 La Liga and the UEFA Champions League title. He is the prime favourite to win this year’s Ballon d’Or and to become the first winner born this century.
2. Rodri (Manchester City)
- 2023-24 Season Stats
- Goals: 9 goals in all competitions (8 in the Premier League, 1 in the UCL)
- Assists: 14 in all competitions
- Rodri played a key role in Manchester City’s Premier League triumph and Spain’s victory at Euro 2024.
3. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- 2023-24 Season Stats
- Goals: 23 (19 in La Liga, 4 in UEFA Champions League)
- Assists: 13
- Bellingham enjoyed a remarkable first se
- .0ason at Real Madrid and significantly contributed to England’s run to the Euro 2024 final.
2024 Ballon d’Or Nominees List
From the extensive list of 30 nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or, let’s take a closer look at the top 10 contenders:
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2024 Top 10 Nominees
| Position | Player | Nationality | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vinicius Junior | Brazil | Real Madrid |
| 2 | Rodri | Spain | Manchester City |
| 3 | Jude Bellingham | England | Real Madrid |
| 4 | Erling Haaland | Norway | Manchester City |
| 5 | Kylian Mbappe | France | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 6 | Harry Kane | England | Bayern Munich |
| 7 | Phil Foden | England | Manchester City |
| 8 | Declan Rice | England | Arsenal |
| 9 | Lamine Yamal | Spain | Barcelona |
| 10 | Ruben Dias | Portugal | Manchester City |
Women’s Ballon d’Or Féminin 2024 Top 10 Nominees
| Position | Player | Nationality | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aitana Bonmatí | Spain | Barcelona |
| 2 | Sam Kerr | Australia | Chelsea |
| 3 | Alex Morgan | USA | San Diego Wave |
| 4 | Jennifer Hermoso | Spain | Barcelona |
| 5 | Rachel Daly | England | Aston Villa |
| 6 | Fridolina Rolfö | Sweden | Barcelona |
| 7 | Keira Walsh | England | Barcelona |
| 8 | Beth Mead | England | Arsenal |
| 9 | Vivianne Miedema | Netherlands | Arsenal |
| 10 | Sam Mewis | USA | Kansas City Current |
As we approach the ceremony on Monday, let’s explore the Premier League stars vying for the prestigious Ballon d’Or. Full details here.
How the Winner is decided?
The winner of the Ballon d’Or is determined through a voting process conducted by a panel of 100 journalists, each representing one of the top 100 countries in the FIFA men’s rankings. The shortlist of nominees is unveiled approximately two months before the ceremony.
Voters are required to select their top 10 players from a 30-man shortlist. Points are awarded as follows: 15 for the first choice, 12 for the second, 10 for the third, and so on, down to 1 point for the tenth choice. The player with the highest total points is crowned the winner.
Judges assess players based on three key criteria:
- Individual Performance: Overall contributions and achievements in the season.
- Decisiveness and Impact: The player’s influence in crucial matches.
- Fair Play: Adherence to the principles of sportsmanship and integrity.
Latest Update on Ballon d’Or 2024 Winner
Recent reports indicate that Vin Jr, along with other Real Madrid representatives, including head coach Carlo Ancelotti and club president Florentino Pérez, will not attend the event in Paris this evening. Their sudden change in decision to snub the occasion has ignited further drama in this thrilling title race! What does this mean for the future of the team? The tension just keeps building!
World-renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano also shared this news on his X:
🚨 BREAKING: Vinicius Jr will NOT travel to Paris as Real Madrid know he will NOT win the Ballon d’Or.
No one from Real Madrid will attend the ceremony. No Florentino Pérez, no Vini Jr, no Carlo Ancelotti, no Jude Bellingham. pic.twitter.com/qN9PaYjmR0
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 28, 2024
Also Read: Ballon d’Or 2024 Winners, Highlights and Final Rankings
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is Ballon d’Or?
The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award presented by France Football to the best male and female players. - Who votes for the Ballon d’Or?
The award is decided by 100 journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA men’s rankings. - When is the 2024 Ballon d’Or?
The ceremony will take place on October 28, 2024. - What time will the Ballon d’Or 2024 award ceremony take place?
The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony will start at 1:15 AM IST on October 29 and at 9:45 PM Central European Time (CET) on October 28. - Who won Ballon d’Or 2023 ?
Lionel Messi was the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or. - How many Ballon d’Or wins does Cristiano Ronaldo have?
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times. - What is the Super Ballon d’Or?
The Super Ballon d’Or is the name of a prize that was awarded only once on December 24, 1989, by the French magazine France Football for the best football player of the previous three decades. - Who has the most Ballon d’Or wins?
Lionel Messi holds the record with eight titles. - How can I watch the Ballon d’Or live?
You can watch the ceremony live on SonyLIV App in India and can catch the live streaming on L’Equipe’s YouTube channel and website.
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