Ballon d’Or 2024: Favourites to win the prestigious award

• The race for Ballon d’Or 2024 is heating up with several top players across Europe in prime position of winning the prestigious award
• Lionel Messi was crowned the winner of Ballon d’Or 2023 after a season which was headlined by him winning the FIFA World Cup with Argentina
• Leading the race for this year’s Golden Ball is Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior

Who leads the way in the power rankings of Ballon d’Or 2024? The race for the Golden Ball is heating up with several top players across Europe in prime position of winning the prestigious award.

Lionel Messi was crowned the winner of Ballon d’Or 2023 after a season which was headlined by him winning the FIFA World Cup with Argentina. It was his eighth Golden Ball and possibly the last one as the football world is moving away from the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo era to a new one that has stars such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior.

Whereas the above mentioned stars are clearly the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or 2024, Phil Foden has ensured he is not left out in the discussion. With that introduction, let’s take a look at the favourites to winning the award this year, as per Goal.com.

1. Vinicius Junior

Vinicius Jr.Photo/ Sky Sports.

Leading the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or is Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian has been at the top level for the past few seasons and would be awarded the Golden Ball this year after a tremendous season with Real Madrid.

Vinicius has been a key player for the Los Blancos this season as they’ve already clinched the La Liga and Spanish Super Cup. Real are also in the final of the UEFA Champions League where they’ll face Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. Vini will be one of the players to watch in the final that will take place on 1 June.

2. Jude Bellingham 

Few players in football history have delivered in their first season at a club like Jude Bellingham. Having arrived from Borussia Dortmund last summer, Bellingham quickly fit in Real Madrid’s system and has impressed in the big matches where his brilliance is needed.

Just like Vini, Bellingham has already won a couple pieces of silverware and is one of the favourites to winning the Ballon d’Or 2024.

3. Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe has been on the forefront of favourites to win the Ballon d’Or every year since he rose to fame at Monaco. Despite clinching titles, including the Ligue 1 and World Cup, he is yet to be crowned winner of the Golden Ball.

Kylian Mbappe. Photo/ BVM Sports.

The Frenchman helped Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 triumph this season and was impressive in the Champions League as they reached the semi-finals. Kylian Mbappe is one of the ones to watch at the Euro 2024 and his performance at the tournament could see him win the prestigious Golden Ball towards later this year.

4. Phil Foden 

Phil Foden has had an impressive 2023/24 season with Manchester City, winning the English Premier League title for a fourth consecutive season. The England international played a significant role in the triumph and was voted the Premier League Player of the Season a few days ago.

Foden could still claim more silverware as his City side are in the final of the FA Cup where they’ll face Manchester United this weekend. He was also named in England’s pre-squad for the Euros tournament, which gives him another opportunity for silverware win.

Foden has so far scored 28 goals and registered eleven assists. Besides the league title, he also boasts the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup which City won earlier this season.

Phil Foden scored twice as Manchester City won the title on the final day of the season. Photo/ Football365

5. Florian Wirtz 

After a stellar 2023/24 campaign, you expect a Bayer Leverkusen player to be among favourites to win Ballon d’Or 2024. Leverkusen won the Bundesliga unbeaten and were on course to completing a rare treble before they were stopped by Atalanta in the final of the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday night in Dublin.

One of the players who has really stood out in Leverkusen’s record breaking season is Florian Wirtz. The 21-year-old has scored 19 goals and recorded 21 assists, and will definitely be a starter for Germany who are hosting this year’s Euro tournament.