The football world is abuzz as the highly anticipated 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony unfolds tonight at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Known for celebrating the pinnacle of individual football talent, the Ballon d’Or award enters a transformative era this year, with two iconic names, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, absent from the nominees. This shift marks a turning point as the spotlight turns to emerging stars ready to make their mark on the sport’s biggest stage.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. is a frontrunner, with pundits widely favoring him for the coveted trophy. However, the Brazilian faces tough competition from both his teammate Jude Bellingham and PSG’s star forward, Kylian Mbappé, each bringing a stellar record to the competition. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Rodri have both had standout seasons, adding depth to a compelling field of contenders.
Scheduled to commence at 8:00 p.m. (Nigeria time), the ceremony promises to be a memorable evening at the historic Parisian venue. Anticipation is at an all-time high, with fans and analysts eager to see which player will carry forward the legacy of the Ballon d’Or into the new generation.
Full List of Ballon d’Or Male Nominees:
- Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid
- Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid
- Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan
- Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
- Alejandro Grimaldo – Bayer Leverkusen
- Dani Carvajal – Real Madrid
- William Saliba – Arsenal
- Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
- Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu – Inter Milan
- Rodri – Manchester City
- Declan Rice – Arsenal
- Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
- Cole Palmer – Chelsea
- Vitinha – PSG
- Vinicius Jr – Real Madrid
- Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal
- Dani Olmo – Barcelona
- Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen
- Mats Hummels – Roma
- Erling Haaland – Manchester City
- Nico Williams – Athletic Bilbao
- Granit Xhaka – Bayer Leverkusen
- Artem Dovbyk – Roma
- Toni Kroos – Real Madrid
- Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
- Phil Foden – Manchester City
- Ruben Dias – Manchester City
- Federico Valverde – Real Madrid
- Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa
Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees:
- Lauren Hemp – Manchester City
- Trinity Rodman – Washington Spirit
- Barbra Banda – Shanghai RCB / Orlando Pride
- Tarciane Lime – Houston Dash
- Mallory Swanson – Chicago Red Stars
- Glodis Viggosdottir – Bayern Munich
- Mariona Caldentey – Barcelona / Arsenal
- Lauren James – Chelsea
- Patricia Guijarro – Barcelona
- Lea Schüller – Bayern Munich
- Gabi Portilho – Corinthians
Women’s Club of the Year Nominees:
- Barcelona
- Chelsea
- Lyon
- PSG
Men’s Club of the Year Nominees:
- Borussia Dortmund
- Girona
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Real Madrid
- Manchester City
Women’s Coach of the Year Nominees:
- Sonia Bompastor – Lyon / Chelsea
- Arthur Elias – Corinthians / Brazil
- Jonatan Giraldez – Barcelona / Washington Spirit
- Filipa Patão – Benfica
- Sarina Wiegman – England
- Emma Hayes – Chelsea / United States
Men’s Coach of the Year Nominees:
- Carlo Ancelotti
- Xabi Alonso
- Luis de la Fuente
- Gian Piero Gasperini
- Pep Guardiola
- Lionel Scaloni
Yachine Trophy Nominees (Best Goalkeeper):
- Diogo Costa
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Gregor Kobel
- Andrei Lunin
- Mike Maignan
- Giorgi Mamardashvili
- Emiliano Martinez
- Unai Simon
- Yann Sommer
- Ronwen Williams
Kopa Trophy Nominees (Best U-21 Player):
- Pau Cubarsi
- Alejandro Garnacho
- Arda Güler
- Karim Konaté
- Kobbie Mainoo
- Joao Neves
- Savinho
- Mathys Tel
- Lamine Yamal
- Warren Zaïre-Emery
As the anticipation mounts for tonight’s event, fans, players, and coaches alike await to witness which names will be etched into history. The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony not only celebrates exceptional performances from the past season but also heralds the beginning of a new chapter in football’s most prestigious individual award. With fresh faces leading the pack, this year’s Ballon d’Or could redefine the sport’s global stage, cementing the emergence of a new era.
