Ballon d’Or 2024 Nominees List: Top 10 Contenders Revealed

The English midfielder enjoyed a stunning start to life at Real Madrid following his move from Borussia Dortmund last summer. It was a dream debut season as the Spanish giants went on to claim the Champions League and La Liga titles, with Bellingham scoring 23 goals and registering 11 assists across both competitions. He then went on to play a key role as England reached the Euro 2024 final, where they lost to Spain.

The 27-year-old centre-back was a mainstay in Pep Guardiola’s back line as Manchester City went on to retain their Premier League title, win the Club World Cup and reach the FA Cup final. The Portugal international made 45 appearances in all competitions before going on to help his national team reach the quarter-finals at Euro 2024.

Foden had yet another spectacular season. He rattled in 19 Premier League goals and five in the Champions League to help City claim even more silverware, and earn himself a host of individual prizes. The 24-year-old England international also started all seven of the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 games.

Uruguayan midfielder Valverde was a vital servant as Real Madrid further solidified their place as the kings of Europe. He missed only one game in all competitions as Carlo Ancelotti’s team won the double, while he captained Uruguay in their first four Copa America matches as they finished third in the competition.

Martinez’s stock just keeps rising. The World Cup winner was instrumental in Aston Villa finishing an incredible fourth in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 41 years, while the cult figure worked wonders at international level once again, too, as he conceded just one goal in open play over the whole Copa America to help Argentina to another tournament success.

What is there to say that hasn’t already been said about the Norwegian goal machine. A sensational 27 goals in 31 Premier League matches plus six more in the Champions League further solidified his place as the best finisher in the game right now.

It was no surprise to see a transfer saga surround Williams throughout the summer as Europe’s top teams lined up for him. The Athletic Club academy graduate was sublime in La Liga last term, netting five goals and setting up 11 more while he played a key role in winning his side the Copa del Rey, all before he went on to help fire Spain to Euro 2024 success, even scoring in the final.

The Swiss veteran was a pivotal part of a historic Bayer Leverkusen team. The midfielder played in all but one game as his team finished as unbeaten champions in the Bundesliga and guided them to DFB-Pokal success, too, though they were beaten by Atalanta in the Europa League final.

No one would ever have predicted that Girona would finish in La Liga’s top three and threaten to crash the Clasico party between Real Madrid and Barcelona in the battle for first and second places. They put up an incredible fight and Ukrainian forward Dovbyk was vital, scoring 24 times to beat Jude Bellingham, Robert Lewandowski and Alexander Sorloth to the top scorer award before joining Roma over the summer.

The German legend bowed out of the game as a true icon and winner. The 34-year-old continued to ooze class until the very end as he helped inspire Madrid to a European and domestic double before he maintained his hold on a midfield spot in the Germany team as they made the last-eight of Euro 2024.

One of the favourites to win the prize this time around, Vinicius had another electrifying campaign. He scored a healthy 31 times across the Champions League and La Liga, even scoring against Borussia Dortmund in the European final to top off an awesome year.

Olmo’s career has been going from strength to strength for years and the last 12 months have been huge for him. He was once again a key figure for RB Leipzig as they fought to ruffle the feathers of the Bundesliga giants and his two goals and three assists were key for Spain’s Euros success, convincing Barcelona to snap him up.

Exciting 21-year-old Wirtz continues his ascent as one of Europe’s most promising players. His 11 goals and 11 assists in the Bundesliga plus four goals and four assists in the Europa League showed just how effective and well rounded his game is, and he just keeps getting better.

The Arsenal captain was a reliable figure as Mikel Arteta’s side put up another strong fight for the Premier League title. His eight goals and 10 assists from the attacking midfield role helped keep them in the battle with Manchester City right to the end.

The German defender showed that, at 35, he still has plenty to offer at the highest level. He played every minute of Borussia Dortmund’s journey to the Champions League final and scored the vital semi-final second-leg goal to beat Paris Saint-Germain and set up the clash against Real Madrid. Amazingly, he ended up leaving the club on a free transfer before joining Roma in September.

Rodri’s importance to Manchester City simply cannot be overstated. So great is his presence, the English giants famously rarely ever lose when he is in the team, and that phenomenon has carried over to the Spanish national team, ensuring a successful year for club and country as he won Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024 while La Roja triumphed.

It was a seamless transition from Tottenham to Bayern Munich for the England hero. The striker battered the goals in for the German giants in a record-breaking debut season, despite it ending without any silverware. He faced a lot of criticism for his performances at Euro 2024, but he did managed to chip in with three important goals.

Rice has been on an unstoppable rise since breaking into the Premier League. He showed he was worth the huge amount of money Arsenal splashed out on him to bring him in from West Ham, scoring seven goals and making eight assists in the league. He made 51 appearances at club level and hardly slowed down as he played every minute of England’s Euro 2024 campaign.

The Portuguese midfielder played a vital supporting role for the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Randal Kolo Muani as Paris Saint-Germain sealed another Ligue 1 title and made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

‘Ice Cold’ Palmer was undeniably magnificent for Chelsea last season. Without the attacking midfielder and his 22 goals and 11 assists, the Blues would have endured a much more miserable season. England, too, may have been beaten much earlier in the Euros final against Spain.

The 32-year-old just keeps on winning trophies. Not only that, he remains absolutely crucial for both Real Madrid and Spain. It was he who broke the deadlock in a close Champions League final before going on to help his country to Euros success.

At 17, Lamine Yamal has already shown that he has a special gift. He was electrifying at times for Barcelona throughout the 2023-24 campaign and then, of course, was a real force throughout the Euros for Spain.

The winger is on the pathway to legendary status at Arsenal. Academy graduate Saka was a vital source of goals and assists as the north London team came in second in the Premier League and he was ever-present at Euro 2024. It’s hard to believe he is still only 22.

The 30-year-old was a consistently good performer as Inter won another Serie A title, chipping in with 13 goals over the campaign before he went on to captain Turkey in their respectable Euros display.

An absolute rock at the heart of the Arsenal defence, the Frenchman has certainly proved he belongs at the top of the game. He didn’t miss a single minute of Premier League football last term and was a key figure for France in the summer, too.

Kylian Mbappe winning the Ballon d’Or feels like an inevitability; will this year be his first? The 25-year-old had a tumultuous year off the field amid the massive transfer saga that surrounded him. Nevertheless, he managed an awesome 44 goals in 48 games for Paris Saint-Germain before captaining France at the Euros.

The Inter goal machine enjoyed another impressive year, banging in 24 Serie A goals for the Scudetto winners and then scoring five goals – including Argentina’s winner in the final – to earn the Copa America Golden Boot.

The Nigerian forward was tremendous for Atalanta last season. He put in a stellar Serie A campaign, but the peak of the year was doubtless his Europa League final hat-trick as he humiliated Bayer Leverkusen after previously helping Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

The 31-year-old centre-back was a consistent performer for club and country over the last year. A rock at the heart of the Germany defence, he played every minute of their summer tournament, and that was after a gruelling but successful year as a leader in the heart of Real Madrid’s back line.

A year ago, the 28-year-old left-back would never have imagined he would be on this list. But few would argue against his place in the top 30 after his amazing 10 goals and 13 Bundesliga assists as Bayer Leverkusen sealed their first ever title. He was also part of the triumphant Spain squad at the Euros.

Credit: Goal.com