Ballon d'Or 2024 race: Bellingham top 1, where are Ronaldo and Messi?

According to Goal’s Ballon d’Or 2024 rankings, Jude Bellingham is ranked first, while Kylian Mbappe and Man City’s stars are close behind.

After a season in the spotlight that included winning the prestigious World Cup trophy, Lionel Messi took home his eighth Golden Ball after receiving the 2023 Ballon d’Or award in Paris in October.

However, the football world has developed rapidly and recently, Goal continued to make predictions about the 20 leading names in the race to win the 2024 Golden Ball title. Notably, current Ballon d’Or Lionel Messi ranked last, while Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked 1 place above him.

20. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

2023-24 season: 16 goals, 6 assists. Won the League Cup.

Will Messi win the 9th Ballon d’Or in his career?

Why not with the ninth Ballon d’Or? Messi became the first player playing outside Europe to win the Ballon d’Or in 2023, but thanks to his performances while playing at Paris Saint-Germain. Can M10 now win the Golden Ball playing on the other side of the Atlantic?

Admittedly, this is an unlikely scenario. With the new MLS season just getting started, Messi will not be able to win any meaningful domestic titles during the 2024 award voting period.

However, if La Pulga can take Miami to the top of the Eastern Conference midway through the season and lead them into the latter stages of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, before leading Argentina to another title at the Copa America 2024, the opportunity is still intact for you.

19. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)

2023-24 season: 32 goals, 13 assists.

Last year, many thought Ronaldo had run out of chances at winning the Ballon d’Or after he was left off the 30-man shortlist for the first time since 2003, but there is certainly still a route for the player to win. won the Ballon d’Or 5 times, forcing me to return to compete in 2024.

However, whether that opportunity has disappeared remains to be seen. With Al-Nassr already far behind unbeaten leaders Al-Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League table, being eliminated from the AFC Champions League at the quarter-finals is a bitter blow to their fragile Ballon d’Or hopes. by Ronaldo. And so, even though CR7 continues to score with incredible efficiency, his chances of ending the season with a championship are increasingly diminishing.

However, the Portuguese national team is one of the favorites to win Euro 2024, and with Ronaldo having re-established a role in the squad under coach Roberto Martinez, he will want to impress in what is to come. in Europe’s biggest tournament this summer. If Ronaldo can lead the national team to win the next continental title as captain, it is likely that the 2024 Ballon d’Or will belong to him.

18. Rodrygo Goes (Real Madrid)

2023-24 season: 13 goals, 8 assists. Won the Spanish Super Cup.

Rodrygo may be Real’s breakthrough factor at the end of the season.

While still playing an important role at Real Madrid, Rodrygo has struggled to maintain his form after an impressive season in 2023. Other players at Santiago Bernabeu are showing superior strength compared to with the Brazilian player.

However, if Rodrygo can rediscover his formidable goalscoring ability in the final weeks of the season, especially in the Champions League, and help his national team win the Copa America, then he will have the opportunity to become a potential candidate in the race to win the Golden Ball.

17. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)

2023-24 season: 11 goals, 19 assists.

Florian Wirtz will be the new name that attracts a lot of attention.

Bayer Leverkusen is showing its dominance by being unbeaten throughout 38 matches in the 2023-24 season in the Bundesliga. Under the leadership of Xabi Alonso, this team looks to end Bayern Munich’s 11-year consecutive championship era in the German national championship. They have also advanced to the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal and are one of the candidates to win the Europa League.

Therefore, it is likely that voters for the Golden Ball will pay attention to the most important players in Alonso’s team, especially Florian Wirtz. This player has made an impressive return after a serious knee injury, and will likely sign a contract worth more than £100 million within the next 12 months, as well as win a starting spot for Germany at Euro 2024.

16. Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)

2023-24 season: 26 goals, 5 assists. Won the Italian Super Cup.

Lautaro is the future of Inter and Argentina.

If there is any moment that sums up the challenges Lautaro Martinez faces in big matches, it is his poor penalty kick in Inter’s shootout loss to Atletico Madrid, which put hopes on hold. Inter’s hopes of reaching the Champions League final for the second time in a row were extinguished.

This striker has not yet been able to contribute to the Argentine team winning the Copa America. Despite his impressive performance, his failure to shine in the most important matches could lead to him losing his chance of winning the Golden Ball this year.

15. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

2023-24 season: 2 goals, 13 assists.

Despite having to take a long break, De Bruyne still managed to return with brilliant form in the second half of the season.

De Bruyne is a potential candidate for the Golden Ball award, even though he had to miss the first half of the season due to a serious injury, but if there is anyone who can bring himself back into the race, it is definitely Definitely a midfielder for Man City.

The 32-year-old has been in great form since his return in January, and is seen as a key player who will help the blue half of Man City repeat their treble-winning campaign in 2022-23 if he keep in shape. Bruyne will also be an important player in the Belgian team, the team is ranked 4th on the FIFA rankings and is a strong candidate at this year’s Euro.

14. Declan Rice (Arsenal)

2023-24 season: 6 goals, 7 assists.

Rice – Arsenal’s bright star, both present and future.

Some people were surprised when Arsenal spent a large sum of money – £105 million (equivalent to $137 million) to sign Rice from West Ham in the summer, but any skepticism about the deal quickly disappeared. quickly disappeared thanks to the midfielder’s excellence since then.

The England international not only played a key role in shielding Mikel Arteta’s defence, but also scored some stunning goals. In recent weeks, Rice has further affirmed his role at the Gunners by becoming the player in charge of set-piece situations at the top 1 Premier League club.

If Rice can help Arsenal win the championship this season, and play an important role in England’s success at the Euros, then there is no longer any basis to deny the possibility of him becoming a candidate for the award. Golden Ball 2024.

13. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

2023-24 season: 10 goals, 7 assists. Win FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

Bernardo Silva always possesses terrible performance in key matches.

Bernardo Silva always shines in big matches, and he will have many opportunities to show himself to the world if Man City goes deep in the C1 Cup.

Pep Guardiola’s team is participating in a tense Premier League title race, as well as trying to win the Champions League for the second time in a row, while Bernardo has made a great contribution by scoring in the knockout round. next with FC Copenhagen.

The Portuguese national team performed excellently in the Euro 2024 qualifiers with Bernardo Silva playing a commanding role in midfield. If he continues to show similar impressive performance in Germany, Silva can completely compete strongly in the race to win the 2024 Golden Ball.

12. Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)

2023-24 season: 16 goals, 12 assists. Win FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

Julian Alvarez is occupying an important position in Pep’s squad.

Alvarez – who is considered the outstanding player of the 2022-23 season after winning the treble with Man City and winning the World Cup with Argentina, has taken his performance to a new level this season when became an indispensable part of Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup.

If he continues to maintain his impressive form, Alvarez can dream of reaching a higher ranking than the 7th place he got at the 2023 Golden Ball.

11. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

2023-24 season: 5 goals, 2 assists, 13 clean sheets. Won the Carabao Cup.

Van Dijk had a great contribution in helping Liver win the Carabao Cup.

Van Dijk is currently considered one of the elite defenders in world football, and the Liverpool captain’s performances so far this season show that he is still proving that.

As usual, he showed stunning composure in Jurgen Klopp’s defense as they aim to collect as many trophies as possible before the German leaves this summer. Van Dijk has also begun to shine with goals in recent weeks, including his decisive goal in the Carabao Cup final.

He will also captain the Dutch Team at Euro 2024 later this year. Although they are not considered a top candidate for the tournament, with Van Dijk’s return to the top, the Netherlands will certainly not be eliminated early from the game.

10. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

2023-24 season: 16 goals, 14 assists.

Saka is in the top of the most expensive players in the world today.

Those who believed that Arsenal could collapse after last season’s failures had to change their minds, as Saka became a bright spot under Mikel Arteta’s guidance in the journey to break the long Premier League title drought. .

The England winger has started 2024 in impressive form, scoring seven goals in five league matches over January and February, as Arsenal displayed their best form of the season. hitherto. Arsenal has just reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, although Saka could not shine in the round of 16 victory over Porto.

If he can help Arsenal win the domestic or European championship, then a real chance to compete for the Golden Ball will come to Saka if he wins the Euro championship with the Three Lions.

9. Antoine Griezman (Atletico Madrid)

2023-24 season: 20 goals, 9 assists.

Griezmann is returning in very good form.

There is an argument that from the start of the 2022 World Cup to the end of 2023, there is no player more consistent and in better form anywhere in Europe than Griezmann.

His form in the first half of the season helped Atletico dream of domestic and European glory, but the Rojiblancos ultimately slipped out of the title race and are now at risk of losing their place in the top 4. However, they still have hope in the Champions League and Antoine Griezmann will play a key role for Diego Simeone’s team.

If Griezmann can go deep in C1 and then win glory with France at Euro 2024, he will have the best chance of winning the Golden Ball award than anyone.

8. Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)

2023-24 season: 18 goals, 8 assists. Won the Spanish Super Cup.

Real’s number 7 is a strong candidate for Ballon d’Or 2024.

Injury prevented Vinicius from having the strong start that many people expected when Karim Benzema left Real Madrid. However, after overcoming physical problems, the winger has returned to his best form.

Vini showed excellence by scoring a hat-trick to help Real Madrid defeat Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, as well as scoring 8 goals in the last 9 matches in La Liga to lead the White Vultures. coming close to winning the 36th La Liga championship.

Vinicius could also become a mainstay for Team Brazil at Copa America, especially after Neymar’s season-ending knee injury. Vinicius will have a memorable 2024, even if winning the Champions League now looks more difficult with Real facing Manchester City in the quarter-finals.

7. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

2023-24 season: 26 goals, 16 assists. Won the Carabao Cup.

If Liver wins the NHA championship, Salah will have the opportunity to win the Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career.

Salah ranked just outside the top 10 in the 2023 Golden Ball voting despite Liverpool’s difficulties last season. However, the “King of Egypt” still has a chance to join the Ballon d’Or race when he restores his form and scores goals after an impressive performance in the first half of this season.

Failure to qualify for the Champions League could affect his final position in the race, although a possible Premier League title win with the Red Devils could change the situation.. However, injury Injury at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) caused him to miss the opportunity to showcase his talent on the international field, something some of his opponents will have this summer.

6. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

2023-24 season: 41 goals, 12 assists.

Harry Kane is having an incredible season, can he quench his title thirst with Bayern?

Kane moved to Bayern with the dream of ending the wait for the first trophy in his football career. However, the Bavarians are now facing the risk of ending the season without any trophies, as they are 10 points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and need to beat Arsenal, then Real Madrid or Manchester City to advance to the Champions League final.

Kane continues to score goals at an astonishing rate, averaging more than one goal per game for the reigning German champions. However, if he ends the season without any medals at club level, will leading England to glory at Euro 2024 be enough for him to win his first Golden Ball?

5. Rodri (Manchester City)

2023-24 season: 7 goals, 11 assists. Win FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

Rodri – an indispensable factor on Man City’s path to conquering the title.

It’s been more than a year since Rodri last failed while wearing a Man City shirt, and his importance to the team is more evident than ever as they have lost all three Premier League matches in which he was absent. present in the 2023-24 season so far.

There is no doubt that Rodri is currently one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. He has shined with important goals, such as his recent equalizer against Chelsea, which has helped Rodri attract the attention of more fans and put him on the track to win the title. Ballon d’Or award 2024.

4. Phil Foden (Manchester City)

2023-24 season: 19 goals, 10 assists. Win FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

With Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland both missing part of the season through injury, Foden has improved dramatically and is on track to enjoy the best season of his career to date.

Not only is he capable of winning many titles with Man City, Foden’s form is also giving him a great opportunity to start for England at Euro 2024 and attract significant attention from many fans. .

3. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

2023-24 season: 32 goals, 6 assists. Win FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

Will the dream of winning the Ballon d’Or soon come true for Haaland?

Haaland missed out on the 2023 Golden Ball, can he improve his performance and win the Golden Ball this year? He is now completely healthy after a month off due to injury and is regaining top form at the club. If Man City once again wins many titles with the number 9 contributing important goals, that could be enough to help Haaland win the Golden Ball.

However, perhaps Haaland’s biggest obstacle is that he will miss the big tournament this summer when Norway is not allowed to participate in Euro 2024. It is possible that if another candidate shines in Germany this summer, then Haaland’s achievements during the season may be forgotten by voting time.

2. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)

2023-24 season: 44 goals, 14 assists. Won the French Super Cup.

Mbappe still shines despite rumors about his future.

We all know that this will be Mbappe’s last Ballon d’Or winning campaign as a PSG player, before he moves to Real Madrid, a deal expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

Mbappe’s goals helped PSG maintain their position at the top of Ligue 1 and have a chance to defend the title, while Paris strengthened their ability to progress further in the Champions League when they were placed in the “easier” bracket. .

The most realistic path for Mbappe to win the Golden Ball is to achieve the milestone of scoring more than 50 goals for PSG this season, then join the French team to reach glory in Germany in the summer – something that is considered feasible when France is a strong candidate for the Euro 2024 championship.

1. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)

2023-24 season: 21 goals, 12 assists. Won the Spanish Super Cup.

Jude Bellingham is gradually becoming a new symbol of Santiago Bernabeu.

The best football player in the first half of the 2023-24 season – Bellingham, has played extremely explosively at Real Madrid even though this is only his first year at the Bernabeu. Bellingham not only scores regularly, but also scores extremely important goals, such as the double in the El Clasico match last November, helping the White Vultures have a spectacular victory over Barcelona.

The attention surrounding Bellingham has waned in recent weeks, partly due to his absence from matches due to injury and suspension, but Real’s upcoming Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City will be The perfect stage for him to shine on his way to winning the Golden Ball title. However, if Real Madrid loses, others could start to overtake him in the race.

Regardless, the current form of the “new Zidane” will be a terrible strength for the England team, giving confidence that they will conquer the Euro this summer. After all, whichever national team wins that title will have a great influence on the winner of this year’s Golden Ball.