The 2024 Ballon d’Or will see, barring any unlikely twists, the end of the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly that has lasted for 15 years: the next winner will come from two names.
The era of Golden Ball exclusive hunting territory of Leo Messi And Cristiano Ronaldoa period that has lasted since 2008 with the only two exceptions represented by Luka Modric (2018) e Karim Benzema (2022), seems destined to end this year, a consequence of their career ending in less competitive leagues such as the American Major League and the Arab Saudi Pro League. The 2024 Ballon d’Or will end up in someone else’s living room, with two big favorites right now, when there are six months left until the proclamation by France Football next October in Paris. And if until some time ago Kylian Mbappe was at the top of the bookmakers list, Jude Bellingham is the favorite right now – albeit narrowly over the Frenchman – to lift the most prestigious individual football award.
Jude Bellingham was exceptional in his first season with Real Madrid: 21 goals, 10 assists and lots of magic
Last year, Messi won the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time, setting a record that is difficult to beat and clearly ahead of Ronaldo who is stuck at five. The 36-year-old champion benefited from the change of regulation in the awarding of the trophywhich now no longer takes into consideration the results achieved in the calendar year but those of the football season: therefore the Argentina captain was able to capitalize on his national team’s triumph at the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022, managing to get the better of Erling Haaland, despite the Norwegian striker having brought home the historic treble with Manchester City.
Leo Messi with his eighth Ballon d’Or won last year
And Haaland himself already seems to be left out this year, after City’s elimination from the Champions League, although they could win the league and national cup. Too little for the Ballon d’Or, and indeed the top three favorites – at present – are still in the running to win the top European cup with their respective clubs: Bellingham with Real Madrid, Mbappé with PSG and Harry Kane – protagonist of an amazing season after his arrival in the Bundesliga in which he broke many records – with Bayern Munich.
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Kylian Mbappé won the championship and is dragging PSG into the Champions League
The England striker is third – quite far behind the other two – in the bookmakers’ preferences, but the cards could be reshuffled not only by the outcome of the Champions League but also by that of the next European Championships, which will see all three highly anticipated protagonists with their respective national teams. Who could join the fight is the other Madridista Vinicius, while at the moment Haaland himself and his City teammates Rodri and Foden seem far away. Unless Messi wins the Copa America as a protagonist and breaks the bank for the ninth time…
