Ballon d'Or 2024 odds: Who is the favourite to be crowned best player in the world? Bookmakers' rankings
ByOli Gent
Updated 25/10/2024 at 13:16 GMT+1
The Ballon d'Or is set to be handed out on Monday, October 28 to crown the best men's player in the world, and the competition is heating up. Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid is the favourite, although club team-mates Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are also in contention. Manchester City trio Erling Haaland, Rodri and Phil Foden lead the way of the Premier League contenders.
'He's going to win it!' - Ancelotti backs Vinicius Jr for Ballon d'Or after Dortmund hat-trick
Video credit: SNTV
The Ballon d'Or will be awarded on Monday, October 28 and the competition to be crowned the best men's player in the world is as hot as ever.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have 13 'Golden Balls' between them, are both not shortlisted for the first time since 2003.
Messi, the Inter Miami forward, is the current Ballon d'Or holder, having won his eighth award following his heroics during the 2022 World Cup final against France, in which he scored twice.
Ronaldo himself has won five honours, but holds the record for the most nominations, with 18 to his name.
However, the Portuguese striker, who now plays his club football for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has not made the shortlist for a second year in succession after missing out in 2023.
As such, that leaves the competition wide open without a clear and obvious favourite, as we head into the final week before the Ballon d'Or is awarded.
But who are the frontrunners for the most prestigious individual award in men's football?
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid) - 4/9
The Real Madrid winger is the current favourite amongst the bookmakers to win a maiden Ballon d'Or after he scored the winning goal in Madrid's 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in last season's UEFA Champions League final.
It was Vinicius' 24th goal in 39 games in the 2023/24 season, and it landed the Brazilian his second Champions League winners' medal after Madrid's 2022 success.
In 2024/25, Vinicius has scored five goals in 10 La Liga matches, while he scored a sensational hat-trick against Dortmund to underline his credentials the week before the ceremony.
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Highlights: Vinicius stars with hat-trick as Real roar back to beat Dortmund
Video credit: TNT Sports
RODRI (MANCHESTER CITY) - 7/1
Fresh off a Premier League title and European Championship double, the Manchester City defensive midfielder is the Premier League's strongest contender for the world's biggest individual prize.
He was the lynchpin for City's fourth league title in a row, and was the heartbeat of Spain's midfield in their Euro 2024-winning campaign - winning the Player of the Tournament award - despite going off injured in the final against England.
His cruciate ligament and meniscus injury that he sustained against Arsenal earlier this season could, however, be a big blow to his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or, with the former Atletico Madrid man ruled out for most - if not all - of this season.
JUDE BELLINGHAM (REAL MADRID) - 17/1
Last year was a glittering one for Jude Bellingham as he donned the famous white of Madrid for the first time.
He quickly became a fans' favourite in the Spanish capital, playing in a far more advanced position to make the most of his goalscoring threat. He notched 23 goals in 42 games for his new side after a big-money move from Borussia Dortmund.
The England midfielder went on to win the Golden Boy award, as well as being named the UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season and La Liga's Player of the Season.
He also won the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award, which he was presented by Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz.
Bellingham was the shining light in England's run to the Euro 2024 final, with his last-minute overhead kick against Slovakia saving the Three Lions in the last 16 to force extra-time.
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‘He is the best!’ – Guardiola backs Rodri for 2024 Ballon d’Or
Video credit: TNT Sports
DANI CARVAJAL (REAL MADRID) - 40/1
Another of Spain's Euros-winning squad, Carvajal scored the opening goal of the UEFA Champions League final in May, with his header setting Madrid on their way to a 15th European title.
The right-back has tallied 286 appearances for Los Blancos in 11 years with the club, and played 41 times for them last term.
However, like Rodri, Carvajal's chances of claiming a first Ballon d'Or - and becoming the first defender to win it since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 - have been dashed after he also injured his cruciate ligaments, ruling him out for the campaign.
LAMINE YAMAL (BARCELONA) - 40/1
At just 17 years old, Yamal's rise has been meteoric. Fast-tracked through Barcelona's La Masia academy, the Spaniard became a regular for his club last term, playing in 37 of 38 La Liga games.
He contributed five goals and seven assists in the league, before a blistering Euros campaign on Spain's right wing, where he laid on four assists and scored a sumptuous goal in the semi-finals against France.
Yamal was named Young Player of the Tournament by UEFA, and has continued his good form into the new club season, with 11 goal contributions in 12 games already this season.
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Hargreaves calls Vinicius 'unstoppable' as he tips him for Ballon d'Or glory
Video credit: TNT Sports
KYLIAN MBAPPE (REAL MADRID) - 40/1
Mbappe finally earned his dream move to Madrid last summer after one of the longest transfer sagas in football history.
The French forward has stepped into the No. 9 shirt vacated by his compatriot Karim Benzema at the Santiago Bernabeu, and has hit the ground running, scoring eight goals in 12 games across all competitions so far.
However, he suffered a disappointing Euros after he broke his nose in the opening game against Austria, and played the rest of the tournament in a protective mask.
He could only score once - in a 1-1 draw with Poland - as France were knocked out in the last four in Germany, struggling to match his hot club form that had seen him net 44 goals in 48 games in his final season for Paris Saint-Germain.
LAUTARO MARTINEZ (INTER MILAN) - 50/1
Voted Serie A's Most Valuable Player last season, the Argentinian was worth his weight in gold as he topped the Italian top flight's scoring charts.
Martinez scored 24 goals in 33 games as Inter were the runaway Scudetto winners once more.
He also won the Copa America golden boot, scoring five times as Argentina won a 16th title in the United States.
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'What a strike' - Martinez riffles ball into the net with thunderous effort
Video credit: TNT Sports
ERLING HAALAND (MANCHESTER CITY) - 50/1
There was no 'second season syndrome' for Manchester City's record-breaking No. 9, who scored 27 goals in 31 Premier League games to help Pep Guardiola's side defend their title and secure a fourth consecutive domestic crown.
His tally was not as strong as the 36 in his debut season, but the Norwegian was laid off with injury during the Christmas period, forcing him to miss a stretch of five games before he finally returned to his usual scoring tendencies in February, with a double against Everton in 2-0 win.
Norway's failure to qualify for Euro 2024 could cost Haaland this year's Ballon d'Or, but if he continues his goalscoring form, he will be one of the hot favourites for years to come.
NICO WILLIAMS (ATHLETIC club) - 100/1
Heavily pursued by Barcelona this summer after an electric Euros, Williams decided to remain in the Basque Country at Bilbao.
The winger caught the attention of those who do not watch La Liga action regularly with his sublime performances off the Spanish left wing in Germany, where he scored twice - including the opener in the 2-1 final victory over England.
Last season, he scored eight times in 37 games across all competitions for his club, but his start to this term has been hampered by an ankle injury followed by a hip niggle.
PHIL FODEN (MANCHESTER CITY) - 150/1
The current PFA Player of the Year, it is surprising to see Foden so far down the list, but the Manchester City man was at the heart of everything good for the Citizens last season.
He featured 35 times in the Premier League, scoring 19 times, assisting eight, and he also had eight goal contributions in as many UEFA Champions League appearances.
He had a barren Euro 2024 campaign, but that will not take away from the stellar club season he had in 2023/24.
Foden's game time has been limited somewhat at the start of 2024/25, with just one start in the league and four appearances off the bench.
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Highlights: Haaland scores outrageous acrobatic goal in five-star Man City rout
Video credit: TNT Sports
HARRY KANE (BAYERN MUNICH) - 150/1
From a personal standpoint, Kane's debut season in Germany would have been a roaring success, as the England striker scored 44 goals in 45 appearances in his first term at the Allianz Arena.
However, Bayern found themselves finishing third in the Bundesliga, behind runaway champions Bayer Leverkusen and surprise package Stuttgart, who pipped them to second on the final day.
Kane did as much as he could - he scored 36 times in 32 Bundesliga games - and added eight more in the UEFA Champions League.
His Euros campaign was a bit less prolific, finding the target three times on England's road to the final, but he has rediscovered his scoring touch with 14 in his first 11 games across all competitions this term.
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