The Main Contenders for the Ballon d’Or 2024: Power Ranking the Leading

Over the last few decades the Ballon d’or has grown hugely in significance. The award handed out to the best player in world football, it was first handed out in 1956, with English winner Stanley Matthews being the first ever winner.

In recent times, the quest to be named the world’s greatest player has been a shootout between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, with their careers winding down, this year’s prize for the 2023-24 season is very much up for grabs.

Ahead of what could be a fascinating contest, our resident football expert Evelyn Balyton is on hand to walk us through all of the leading contenders.

Ranking the Finest Contenders for the 2024 Ballon d’Or

This season has been a historic one. Euro 2024 and the 2024 Copa America provided a platform for several young stars to shine and across Europe there was some truly stunning football played.

With this year’s prize being wide open, here are some of the most likely contenders for glory.

Cristiano Ronaldo

“Without football, my life is worth nothing.” Despite now being aged 39, Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong and still feels that football plays a vital part in his life. The headline act in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo still knows where the back of the net is.

Having ended the season as the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer, he still finds himself in the race for the Ballon d’Or, but his poor showing at the European Championship may make it difficult for the great man to win the Ballon d’Or for a fifth time.

Lionel Messi

Nobody in the Ballon d’Or‘s rich history has won this prestigious individual prize as much as Lionel Messi.

2023 saw Messi win an eighth Ballon d’Or thanks to his exploits at the 2022 World Cup and to say it meant a lot would be an understatement, “I couldn’t imagine having the career that I’ve had. Everything that I’ve achieved. The fortune I’ve had playing for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It’s nice to win these individual trophies. To win the Copa America and then the World Cup, to get it done is amazing,”

Although it’s fair to say that when it comes to the Ballon d’Or 2024 power rankings, Messi’s form at Inter Miami doesn’t put him near the top of the pile, he once again played a telling hand in helping Argentina reach the final of the 2024 Copa America and success in international tournaments can go a long way when it comes to the judging of the award.

Whilst it is unlikely that Messi will win this year’s prize, discount the Argentine at your peril.

Vinicius Junior

For much of the 2023/2024 season the leader in the 2024 Ballon d’Or race has been Vinicius Jr. The Real Madrid man has been a driving force behind his sides La Liga and Champions League victories and many believe that his consistent performances should land him a first ever Ballon d’Or title.

Whilst the Brazilian has been electric in front of goal, he failed to fire at the Copa America and that could end up counting against him.

A wonderful talent, he will hope to win this prize for the first time in his career.

Mohamed Salah

Mo Salah is a king in Egypt and is one of the finest players to have ever hailed from Africa.

A Liverpool and Premier League great, Salah is Liverpool’s leading scorer in Premier League history and will be immortalised on the Kop forever.

Whilst nobody can deny his influence, his absence from the UCL and Egypt’s early exit from the 2024 African Cup of Nations are likely to mean that he will start as a long shot.

Harry Kane

Harry Kane is England’s greatest striker and since moving to the Bundesliga, he has put the league on notice thanks to his stunning performances in front of goal this year.

In the race for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Kane has long been in the conversation and it’s easy to see why.

Having found the back of the net 44 times, many believe that the Bayern Munich man could be the man to usurp Ronaldo and Messi, but Bayern’s failure to finish ahead of Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and their failure to reach the Champions League Final could make this year’s award beyond him.

Toni Kroos

Dominating the football news is certainly no easy feat but when Toni Kroos announced that he would be retiring from the game after Euro 2024 he achieved exactly that.

A supreme midfielder, Kroos has never made the top three in the Ballon d’Or placings, but after yet another superb season where he won the Champions League with Real, Kroos is firmly in the picture this time around.

Whilst others may be slightly ahead of him due to their goals and assists, Kroos will retire from the game as an all time great and few would argue if he were to be crowned the best player in the world.

Kylian Mbappé

Despite the dominance of both Messi and Ronaldo, Karim Benzema was able to win the Ballon d’Or back in 2022 and Kylian Mbappe will hope to follow in his countryman’s footsteps this time around.

Set to become a Real Madrid player at the start of next season, Mbappe had long been regarded as the frontrunner for Ballon d’Or glory and this could be the year where he finally gets his hand on the trophy.

A force once again for PSG, Mbappe netted yet another Ligue 1 title but France’s failure to win Euro 2024 could count against him.

Everyone connected with French football will hope that now is his time.

Erling Haaland

After spearheading Manchester City to a famous treble in the 2022/2023 season, many believed that Erling Haaland should have been crowned the player of the year back in 2023.

Having lost out to Lionel Messi, Haaland is once again in the reckoning and was a critical factor in helping City win a fourth consecutive Premier League title.

Although he is surrounded by great talents such as Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri, Haaland is City’s star man and he will be regarded as a major favourite for Ballon d’Or victory.

Jude Bellingham

In the race to be crowned football’s most prestigious individual, Jude Bellingham ranks high on that list.

Having left Borussia Dortmund for Real Madrid, Bellingham has been Madrid’s best player this season and his goals and assists were vital in their historic season.

Having made the move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid look easy, Bellingham is aiming to become the first English player to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen. Despite the brilliant performances by many in Euro 2024 and the Copa America, Bellingham has to be regarded as one of the Ballon d’Or favorites.

Who Will Come Out on Highest?

With the race to be crowned the 2024 Ballon d’Or set to go down to the wire, the one great thing about this year’s award is that despite Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both in the twilight of their careers, a host of exciting young talent is set to take their place and look set to dominate the game for years.

As to who will win this year’s award, that decision looks tough to call, and the betting odds would indicate a tight race is in store. With the award set to be given out towards the end of 2024, there is still time for any of the nine players to cement their claim. If you are interested in how the market plays out in the build up to the announcement, check out feedbacks for Filipino players at MightyTips.

With out and out goal scorers, complete midfielders and dribbling wizards all in contention, whoever wins the 2024 Ballon d’Or would have certainly deserved it.