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The candidates for the 2024 Ballon d’Or are now known. He award that he raised for the last time Lionel Messi For his performance (mainly) in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the ‘Pulga’ and Cristiano Ronaldo are no longer among the nominees, something that has not happened since 2003. A change of paradigm, of era. For this edition there is no clear favorite, although several will compete for the award given by France Football magazine. The winner will be announced on Monday, October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France, and there are two Argentine candidates for the top award.
The French media outlet – which has organised the ceremony alone since it separated from the International Football Federation (FIFA) in 2016 – recognises the best men’s and women’s footballers of the season, as well as the best coaches, goalkeepers and Under-21 footballers from around the world. The performance of athletes from July to June of the following year is taken into account, which means that the European sports calendar is taken into account. The jury is made up of 100 journalists from the 100 countries that are best placed in the FIFA rankings.
Lionel Messi won the last Ballon d’Or, but he is not among this season’s candidatesMichel Euler – AP
This year, there are three footballers among the nominees who, a priori, will compete head to head for the Ballon d’Or: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Rodri (Manchester City) and Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid). Unlike what happened before the Copa América and the Euro Cup (both ended on July 14), when everything seemed to indicate that the award would stay at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium for the Merengue’s UEFA Champions League win, the Spanish midfielder from Manchester City entered the discussion. Rodri shone for his club, with whom he won the Premier League, and was chosen as the best player of the Euro Cup, precisely, a competition in which he was crowned champion with Spain.
There are two Argentines in the running: Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez (also on the list of 10 goalkeepers who will fight to win the Lev Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper in that position) and Lautaro Martínez. Of them, the one who is emerging as a strong candidate to fight for the top spots is ‘El Toro’. He had a dream season, he was the top scorer and best player in Serie A (he lifted the trophy as captain of Inter Milan) and the top scorer in the Copa América (he scored five goals, the most important of which was in the final against Colombia).
Lautaro Martinez had the best season of his career and dreams of winning the Ballon d’OrJulia Nikhinson – AP
Other contenders for the award, although with fewer flashes than those mentioned above, are: Kylian Mbappé (PSG -now in Real Madrid-/France), Erling Haaland (Manchester City/Norway), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid/Uruguay), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich/England), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid/Spain) and Phil Foden (Manchester City/England), to name a few. In 2023, Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or and those behind him in the final vote were Haaland and Mbappé.
Lionel Messi is the most successful Ballon d’Or winner: he has won eight awardsFRANCE FOOTBALL – FRANCE FOOTBALLTHE NATIONGet to know The Trust Project
