by Jude Bellingham is one of six England players to be nominated for the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or, with the 30-man shortlist unsurprisingly dominated by European champions Spain, two-time winners Real Madrid and the Premier League.
Bellingham, who finished 18th in the final rankings last year, was selected because of his role in England’s run to the Euro 2024 finals this summer as well as Real’s success in the Champions League and La Liga last season.
The 21-year-old midfielder is hoping to become the fourth Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or, and the first since Michael Owen in 2001. He is joined on the list by Three Lions team-mates Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
The latter four are among ten Premier League players nominated, alongside Rodri, Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Martin Odegaard and William Saliba (Arsenal) and Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa). The Argentine will also be hoping to retain his Yashin Trophy, which is awarded to the best goalkeeper.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the last Premier League player to win the Ballon d’Or in 2008. This year, for the first time since 2003, the list of nominees does not include Ronaldo or his great rival Lionel Messi.
Vinicius Jr, Bellingham’s teammate at Real Madrid, is the current favourite to win the 68th edition of the famous award given by France Football.
The Brazilian winger was the star performer in Real’s 15th European Cup triumph, scoring twice in the semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich before settling the final with the second goal in a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in June.
Lionesses stars Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Lucy Bronze are among the 30 nominees for the sixth edition of the Women’s Ballon d’Or, with the shortlist made up of Spanish and Barcelona players, led by last year’s winner Aitana Bonmati.
When will the 2024 Ballon d’Or take place?
The winners of these prestigious awards will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, October 28.
The nominees for the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan)
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
Artem Dovbyk (Girona and Roma)
Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund and Roma)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Kylian Mbappé (PSG and Real Madrid)
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig and Barcelona)
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Rodri (Manchester City)
Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Vitinha (PSG)
Nico Williams (Athletic Club)
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
The nominees for the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or
Barbra Banda (Shanghai RCB and Orlando Pride)
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
Lucy Bronze (Barcelona and Chelsea)
Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona and Arsenal)
Tabatha Chawinga (PSG)
Grace Geyoro (PSG)
Manuela Giugliano (Rome)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
Giulia Gwinn (Bayern Munich)
Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)
Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)
Lindsey Horan (Lyon)
Lauren James (Chelsea)
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG)
Lime Tarciane (Houston Dash)
Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Sjöke Nusken (Chelsea)
Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg and Barcelona)
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
Gabi Portilho (Corinthians)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Mayra Ramírez (Levante and Chelsea)
Trinity Rodman (Spirit of Washington)
Lea Schuller (Bayern)
Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
Glodis Viggosdottir (Bayern Munich)
