Ballon d’Or 2024: The 10 favourites to win the men’s award

The Ballon d’Or is modern football’s top individual prize. Since the award was opened up to footballers from around the world in 2007, it has become a symbol of footballing greatness – especially as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo shared the golden ball exclusively between them from 2008 up to 2017.

But with both out of the running for the No 1 spot this time around, a new king will be crowned. The women’s equivalent, the Ballon d’Or Feminin, is also awarded during the ceremony, with the likes of Chelsea’s Lauren James and Lucy Bronze among those nominated.

Here is the key information surrounding the event and a list of who is in line to take home this year’s Ballon d’Or.

2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony date and venue

The 2024 Ballon d’Or is set to take place on Monday 28th October 2024 at Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, France, at 8pm.

Where to watch the Ballon d’Or 2024

There hasn’t been any official information on exactly where to watch the 2024 Ballon d’Or just yet, but last year’s was broadcast for free by many different broadcasters such as TNT Sports.

Ballon d’Or 2023 winners

Lionel Messi picked up Ballon d’Or number eight in 2023, pipping Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé to the award. The Argentinian captained his country to the World Cup in Qatar, ending a 36-year wait for the South Americans to become world champions again.

Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati won the women’s award, after a year that saw her win Spain’s Liga F, the Women’s Champions League and the World Cup.

Here is the list of who we believe are the ten favourites to lift the men’s Ballon d’Or in 2024:

10

Dani Olmo

Barcelona

While Dani Olmo’s goal involvement record isn’t as dazzling as the others on this list, we all know that is far from the be-all and end-all when it comes to defining quality.

But revisionism is often rife when the Ballon d’Or is concerned, and Olmo’s superb displays for Spain in their victorious Euro 2024 campaign may well get him in the conversation. His very nomination is arguably evidence of that, while his recent move to Barcelona has kept him in the spotlight.

9

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal

Bukayo Saka was one of the main driving forces behind Arsenal’s quest for the Premier League title and their Champions League journey, which ended at the hands of Bayern Munich. He’s come up with a number of key goals and assists, which included a run of seven goals in five games early in the year to help propel the Gunners into a promising position.

However, his trophyless campaign won’t have done much for his Ballon d’Or prospects, even if he can hold his head high after a stellar campaign.

8

Harry Kane

Bayern Munich

Harry Kane had a brilliant campaign with Bayern Munich individually, but the German club’s dismal attempt at defending the Bundesliga title and a lack of silverware has somewhat cast a shadow over his individual performances.

He could well have firmly been in the discussion ahead of the summer, but with Bayern faltering in the Champions League and England falling at the final hurdle in the European Championship – a tournament during which his displays were panned – he’s surely more likely to have fallen behind in the race.

7

Florian Wirtz

Bayer Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz had the biggest breakthrough season on this list, having played a massive part in Bayer Leverkusen’s rise to the top of the Bundesliga in 2023/24. The German side were one match away from a historic unbeaten treble, and one wonders where they’d be without Wirtz.

The 21-year-old continued his fine form at his home Euros, which included two goals – one a late equaliser in the quarter-final. It’s hard to say where he put a foot wrong last term, though it’s likely the weight of the competition ahead of him that will stop him claiming the top prize.

He’ll surely be in the conversation in the years to come.

6

Kylian Mbappé

Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé’s brutal goalscoring streak sent Paris Saint-Germain to yet another Ligue 1 title last season.

He also showed up on the biggest stages, delivering a devastating blow to Barcelona’s Champions League hopes by steering PSG into the semi-finals with a double in the second leg of their quarter-final.

He also hit 52 goals for club and country last term – only Harry Kane can match that on this list. Mbappe’s Real Madrid move may yet propel his path to eternal stardom even further, but his domestic and international campaigns ended on relatively sour notes – which isn’t the greatest omen when it comes to Ballons d’Or.

5

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham continues to defy expectations at Real Madrid, despite being just 21 years of age. He took to La Liga football (and the iconic No 5 jersey at Madrid) like a duck to water, netting 10 times in his first 10 games – a run which included a match-winning double away to Barcelona.

A true star in the making, Bellingham capped his first campaign in Spain with a La Liga and Champions League double. He then continued to lead in moments for England at the European Championship, with the former Birmingham City youngster’s overhead kick saving the Three Lions from a humiliating last-16 exit.

But having fallen short in the final, he may not have had all the ingredients to be a surefire Ballon d’Or winner this year, but he’s going the right way about claiming one in the not-too-distant future.

4

Phil Foden

Manchester City

Phil Foden threatened to overshadow Erling Haaland’s accomplishments at Manchester City last season, which is saying something.

The Englishman’s form towards the end of the campaign hurled City to a fourth straight Premier League title, while his big-game prowess continues to grow, with Foden netting in Man City’s enthralling draw in the Champions League.

His goals also effectively sealed City’s latest title, while he was a key part of England’s run to the Euro 2024 final. Another season like that and he’ll be well in the running for the top prizes in football – and not just the team ones.

3

Erling Haaland

Manchester City

There was nothing more Erling Haaland could have done after missing out on the 2023 Ballon d’Or, but could be in with a shout now that Messi is out of the way.

As mentioned, he wasn’t necessarily the best player in his team last term thanks to the form of Phil Foden, though his start to the current campaign has reminded everyone how is one of the most lethal strikers in world football.

He may not have had an international tournament to showcase his talents, but that hardly matters when you put up the kinds of numbers he does. There surely can’t be many better than Haaland in the game right now.

2

Vinícius Júnior

Real Madrid

Injuries held Vinícius Júnior back towards the start of the campaign, but he’s been nothing short of sensational since, becoming the star man in the best team on the planet.

His efforts were integral to Real Madrid claiming a 15th European crown, while there were times when it felt as though he was at the very top of his game.

He could walk into any team in the world, and if that doesn’t make him a prime Ballon d’Or contender, we don’t know what will.

1

Rodri

Manchester City

When Man City lost the FA Cup final this year, it was the first time in over a year that Rodri lost a game for Manchester City. The Spaniard is a key reason for his side’s success, and has even managed to add more goals and assists to his game in the past year.

When Rodri steps onto a football pitch, there’s almost a sense that he will be on the right side of the result, one way or another. There was a reason there was optimism when he was substituted midway through the Euro 2024 final this summer.

Unfortunately for England (and the rest of his opponents), he ended up on the winning side once more in Germany as he capped a superb campaign with winners’ medals for club and country.

When you don’t put a foot wrong and have multiple pieces of silverware to back it up, it’s hard to bet against someone like that. Ballon d’Or awards don’t often go to the most deserving player (one would argue a World Cup wasn’t enough for Messi last year), but Rodri would certainly be a worthy winner.