Ballon d’Or 2024: How does the Ballon d’Or format work? What are the changes made to football’s prestigious award?
Published 28/10/2024 at 10:49 GMT
The winner of the Ballon d'Or for the 2023/24 season will be announced this month, with football coming together to celebrate individual excellence in the game. A first-time winner is guaranteed on the men's side, while Aitana Bonmati is the favorite to win her second Ballon d'Or Feminin - but who are the nominees for each award? How are they voted on? And how many awards are given out?
Hargreaves calls Vinicius 'unstoppable' as he tips him for Ballon d'Or glory
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual accolade in football, awarded to the best player of the year by France Football since its inception in 1956.
The 68th edition of the awards will take place at the famous Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. The winner of the 2024 addition, announced on October 28, will be a first-time victor with the omissions of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric.
Real Madrid stars are hotly tipped for the award after they captured their 15th Champions League title as well as a 36th La Liga trophy last season. Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior and England international Jude Bellingham are considered the front-runners, with Manchester City midfielder Rodri also a contender for the award.
But what is the Ballon d’Or voting format, and who is nominated for the famous title?
2024 Ballon d’Or voting format
One-hundred journalists from the top 100 of FIFA’s member nations are selected and given voting rights for the award. Each voter is asked to choose their top five players from the list of nominees, with different points totals awarded for each position:
- First place: Six Points
- Second place: Four points
- Third place: Three points
- Fourth place: Two points
- Fifth place: One point
The player with the highest number of points after votes are cast is named as the winner of the Ballon d’Or.
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What changes have been made ahead of the 2024 Ballon d’Or?
In previous years, the winner of the award would be interviewed before the trophy ceremony, meaning the player in question would know the result of the voting before it had been announced to the public.
This year will be different, with the winner not being notified of the result in advance, according to The Athletic.
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This combination of pictures created on October 30, 2023 shows Inter Miami CF's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) holding his 8th Ballon d'Or award and FC Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati (R) holding her Woman Ballon d'Or award.
Image credit: AFP
New trophies have also been added to the list of prizes at the event: the Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year will recognise the standout head coach from both the men’s and women’s game.
What awards will be presented at the Ballon d’Or Ceremony?
There are a total of nine awards to be given out on October 28:
- Men's Ballon d'Or
- Women's Ballon d'Or
- Kopa Trophy (best player under 21 years old)
- Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper)
- Gerd Muller Trophy (top goalscorer from 2023/24 season)
- Men's Club of the Year trophy
- Women's Club of the Year trophy
- Men's Coach of the Year
- Women's Coach of the Year
2024 Ballon d'Or nominees
A total of 30 players have been nominated for the 2024 award, and Real Madrid players dominate the list with seven nominees.
Arsenal quartet William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka make the list alongside Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Rodri of Manchester City.
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal, 17, is the youngest player nominated and is one of two Barcelona players recognised alongside summer signing Dani Olmo.
It is the first time in 21 years that neither Messi nor Ronaldo have been nominated for the award, with the two greats plying their trade in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami and the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr respectively.
| Player | Country and Team |
| Jude Bellingham | England, Real Madrid |
| Hakan Calhanoglu | Turkey, Inter Milan |
| Dani Carvajal | Spain, Real Madrid |
| Ruben Dias | Portugal, Manchester City |
| Artem Dovbyk | Ukraine, Girona/Roma |
| Phil Foden | England, Manchester City |
| Alejandro Grimaldo | Spain, Bayer Leverkusen |
| Erling Haaland | Norway, Manchester City |
| Mats Hummels | Germany, Borussia Dortmund |
| Harry Kane | England, Bayern Munich |
| Toni Kroos | Germany, Real Madrid |
| Ademola Lookman | Nigeria, Atalanta |
| Emiliano Martinez | Argentina, Aston Villa |
| Lautaro Martinez | Argentina, Inter |
| Kylian Mbappe | France, Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid |
| Martin Odegaard | Norway, Arsenal |
| Dani Olmo | Spain, RB Leipzig/Barcelona |
| Cole Palmer | England, Manchester City/Chelsea |
| Declan Rice | England, Arsenal |
| Rodri | Spain, Manchester City |
| Antonio Rudiger | Germany, Real Madrid |
| Bukayo Saka | England, Arsenal |
| William Saliba | France, Arsenal |
| Federico Valverde | Uruguay, Real Madrid |
| Vinicius Junior | Brazil, Real Madrid |
| Vitinha | Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain |
| Nico Williams | Spain, Athletic Club |
| Florian Wirtz | Germany, Bayer Leverkusen |
| Granit Xhaka | Switzerland, Bayer Leverkusen |
| Lamine Yamal | Spain, Barcelona |
2024 Ballon d'Or feminin nominees
Aitana Bonmati is the favorite to win a second successive Ballon d'Or, while her Barcelona and Spain teammate Alexia Putellas has the opportunity to complete a hat-trick of wins if she is voted the top female player for the 2023/24 season.
Chelsea's Lauren James and Manchester City's Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw make the list of nominees, but there is no place for 2023 runner-up Sam Kerr after injuries disrupted her season.
| Player | Country and Team |
| Barbra Banda | Zambia, Shanghai RCB/Orlando Pride |
| Aitana Bonmati | Spain, Barcelona |
| Lucy Bronze | England, Barcelona/Chelsea |
| Mariona Caldentey | Spain, Barcelona/Arsenal |
| Tabitha Chawinga | Malawi, Paris Saint-Germain/Olympique Lyonnais |
| Grace Geyoro | France, Paris Saint-Germain |
| Manuela Giugliano | Italy, AS Roma |
| Caroline Graham Hansen | Norway, Barcelona |
| Patricia Guijarro | Spain, Barcelona |
| Giulia Gwinn | Germany, Bayern Munich |
| Yui Hasegawa | Japan, Manchester City |
| Ada Hegerberg | Norway, Olympique Lyonnais |
| Lauren Hemp | England, Manchester City |
| Lindsey Horan | USA, Olympique Lyonnais |
| Lauren James | England, Chelsea |
| Marie-Antoinette Katoto | France, Paris Saint-Germain |
| Alyssa Naeher | USA, Chicago Red Stars |
| Sjoeke Nusken | Germany, Chelsea |
| Ewa Pajor | Poland, VfL Wolfsburg/Barcelona |
| Salma Paralluelo | Spain, Barcelona |
| Gabi Portilho | Brazil, Corinthians |
| Alexia Putellas | Spain, Barcelona |
| Mayra Ramirez | Colombia, Levante/Chelsea |
| Trinity Rodman | (USA, Washington Spirit |
| Lea Schuller | Germany, Bayern Munich |
| Khadija Shaw | Jamaica, Manchester City |
| Sophia Smith | USA, Portland Thorns |
| Mallory Swanson | USA, Chicago Red Stars |
| Tarciane | Brazil, Corinthians/Houston Dash |
| Glódís Viggosdottir | Iceland, Bayern Munich |
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