2024 BALLON D'OR
What record could Real Madrid break at the 2024 Ballon d’Or Awards?
Real Madrid players received several nominations with seven alone shortlisted for the ‘Men’s Player of the Year’ award.
On Wednesday evening (4 September), France Football revealed the 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlisted players, teams and coaches with the 2024 gala event set to take place in Paris on 28 October.
The shortlist of nominees have been compiled based on performances over the season, from 1 August (2023), to 31 July (2024) with a panel of journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings for men and the top 50 for women now set to cast their votes in choosing the best.
Spanish football was well represented with Real Madrid and the Spanish national team - winners of the Champions League and European Championship respectively, among the most represented candidates, while FC Barcelona women’s team (winners of the domestic Liga F and the Women’s Champions League) also claimed eight nominees.
High Madrid presence
Los Blancos stars: Bellingham, Valverde, the now retired Toni Kroos, Vinicius, Carvajal, Mbappé and Antonio Rüdiger were all shortlisted in a list that failed to include either Lionel Messi (eight time winner) and Cristiano Ronaldo who has won the award on five occasions.
Other Real Madrid players such as Arda Guler (Kopa Award), Lunin (Yashin Award) and head coach Carlo Ancelotti were also among the nomininations as was the club for ‘Men’s Club of the Year Award’ with the Bernabeu side winning LaLiga along with the Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Champions League last season.
Los Blancos could edge ahead
Spain’s La Liga has the most Ballon d’Or winners overall, with twenty-four wins shared between Barcelona and Real Madrid, with twelve wins each. The two Spanish giants also lead the overall club ranking for producing the most winners and a win for the likes of either Toni Kroos, Jude Bellingham or Vinicius Jr. next month would see the Bernabeu side lead the way in the overall Ballon d’Or winners ranking for ‘Men’s Player of the Year’ award.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or Awards ceremony is set to take place in Paris at the end of October (28th) at the Théâtre du Châtelet.