Ballon d’Or 2024: all the nominees and when is the ceremony?

The Ballon d’Or awards ceremony attracts worldwide attention to the best footballer in the world. – Credit: AFP

The world of football is preparing for a new awards ceremony: the nominees for the Ballon d’Or, the classic award given to the best players of the season by the prestigious magazine France Football, have been announced. After the consecration of Aitana Bonmatí and the Argentine Lionel Messi (the most successful player in history with eight awards) in 2023, this year’s edition will mark a new era: Leo and Cristiano Ronaldo are not nominated for the first time in 21 years.

In the announcement on the official Ballon d’Or website, the first to emerge as one of the nominees was Emiliano Dibu Martínez, goalkeeper for Aston Villa and the Argentine national team, who is also a candidate for the award for best goalkeeper of the season. He was followed by Uruguayan Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Phil Foden (Manchester City) and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid). Later, it was time for Lautaro Martínez, Inter’s top scorer, who was also among the candidates. El Toro and Dibu will be the two Argentine representatives among the 30 nominees.

Along with the forward from Bahía Blanca, the Frenchman Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid and PSG), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) and Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen) were presented in the session.

In the second round, Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Grant Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), Artem Dovbik (AS Roma) and Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, retired) were nominated. Then it was the turn of Brazilian Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Dani Olmo (FC Barcelona and Leipzig), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), Martin Ödegaard (Arsenal) and Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund).

In a new edition, Rodri (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Vitinha (PSG), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), William Saliba (Arsenal), Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) were revealed as other contenders for the Ballon d’Or.

On the other hand, there are three Argentines nominated in other categories that will be awarded at the Ballon d’Or gala. Lionel Scaloni is one of the candidates to win the award for men’s coach of the season, Emiliano Dibu Martínez was nominated for the Yachine award (he already won it after his performance at the 2022 Qatar World Cup) and Alejandro Garnacho will compete for the Kopa Award for best U-21 player in the world.

Aitana Bonmatí and Leo Messi, the winners of the 2023 Ballon d’Or (Ballon d’Or)

The 68th annual Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 28 at the Chatelet theatre in Paris. The 2023 edition saw Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmatí, with a historic day as the Argentine won the eighth such award in his professional career.

• Emiliano Dibu Martinez (Aston Villa)
• Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
• Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
• Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
• Phil Foden (Manchester City)
• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
• Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid and PSG)
• Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
• Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
• Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
• Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
• Grant Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Artem Dovbik (AS Roma)
• Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, retired)
• Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid),
• Dani Olmo (FC Barcelona and Leipzig)
• Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Martin Ödegaard (Arsenal)
• Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
• Rodri (Manchester City)
• Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
• Declan Rice (Arsenal)
• Vitinha (PSG)
• Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
• William Saliba (Arsenal)
• Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter)
• Arsenal
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
• Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)

The 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or nomineesThe 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or nomineesThe 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or nomineesThe 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or nomineesThe 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees

• Lionel Scaloni (Argentina).
• Josep Guardiola (Manchester City).
• Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta).
• Luis De La Fuente (Spain).
• Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid).
• Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen).

• Diogo Costa (Porto / Portugal).
• Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG / Italy).
• Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund / Suiza).
• Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid / Ucrania).
• Mike Maignan (Milan / France).
• Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia / Georgia).
• Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez (Aston Villa / Argentina).
• Unai Simon (Athletic Club of Bilbao / Spain).
• Yann Sommer (Inter Milan / Switzerland).
• Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns / South Africa).

Among the female footballers who will compete for the award, which will be given on October 28 at the ceremony to be held in Paris, the nominees announced by the official account are:

• Trinity Rodman (Washington Sprit)
• Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
• Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)
• Manuela Giuliano (Rome)
• Barbra Banda (Shanghai RCB y Orlando Pride)
• Tarciane Lima (Corinthians y Houston Dash)
• Aitana Bonmatí (FC Barcelona)
• Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)
• Glodis Viggosdottir (Bayern Munich)
• Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal and FC Barcelona)
• Lucy Bronze (FC Barcelona y Chelsea)
• Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
• Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea)
• Lindsey Horan (Lyon)
• Caroline Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona)
• Tabitha Chawinga (PSG and Lyon)
• Gabi Portilho (Corinthians)
• Patricia Guijarro (FC Barcelona)
• Lea Schüller (Bayern Munich)
• Lauren James (Chelsea)
• Salma Paralluelo (FC Barcelona)
• Giulia Gwinn (Bayern Múnich)
• Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
• Grace Geyoro (PSG),
• Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona)
• Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
• Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg and FC Barcelona)
• Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
• Mayra Ramirez (Levante and Chelsea)
• Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG)

The nominees for Best Women’s Football Club of the season are:

• Barcelona (Spain).
• PSG (France).
• Lyon (France).
• Chelsea (England).
• NY/NJ Gotham (United States).

• Borussia Dortmund (Germany).
• Girona (Spain).
• Bayer Leverkusen (Germany).
• Manchester City (England).
• Real Madrid (Spain).

Among the most outstanding coaches nominated are:

• Sonia Bompastor (Lyon y Chelsea).
• Arthur Elías (Corinthians / Brazil).
• Jonatan Giraldez (Barcelona and Washington Spirit).
• Filipa Patao (Benfica).
• Sarina Wiegman (Inglaterra).

• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona / Spain).
• Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United / Argentina).
• Arda Güler (Real Madrid / Türkiye).
• Karim Konaté (Red Bull Salzburg / Ivory Coast).
• Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United / Inglaterra).
• Joao Neves (PSG / Portugal).
• Savinho (Manchester City / Brazil).
• Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich / France).
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain).
• Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG / Francia).