Ballon d’Or 2024 Power Rankings

Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or for a record eighth time in 2023. The legendary forward received the award off the back of an unforgettable year in which he finally won the World Cup with Argentina. Erling Haaland finished second but wasn’t able to win the accolade for the first time in his career, despite having won the treble with Manchester City.

This year, a streak of over 20 years has come to an end, as neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo was part of the 30-man 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees list, which was released on September 4, Wednesday. This was the first time since 2003 that both men weren’t part of the list, as a new era beckons away from the duopoly.

In the past, the prestigious individual accolade was based on the performance of footballers across a calendar year. However, this time around – for the second time in the award’s history – the votes are based on the results of the season, meaning that in 2023, Messi won for his efforts – starting on August 1, 2022 and ending on July 31, 2023. We’ve listed the 20 most likely candidates for the 2024 Ballon d’Or based on how they’ve performed this time around ahead of the October gala.

20William Saliba

Arsenal and France

The centre-piece of the Premier League’s best defence, William Saliba didn’t miss a second of action as Arsenal recorded a second runners-up finish behind Manchester City last season. The Frenchman then played out a stellar summer at Euro 2024 as he won the vote of confidence from Didier Deschamps to finally start ahead of Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate.

At just 23 years old, there are already people out there who would argue Saliba’s position as the Premier League’s best centre-back right now, above Ruben Dias and Virgil Van Dijk. With such assured, consistent performances for club and country, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility, and this year’s nomination certainly won’t be his last.

William Saliba for Arsenal in 2023/24

Games
50

Goals
2

Assists
1

19Emiliano Martinez

Aston Villa and Argentina

Lionel Messi hailed his international teammate Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez as the world’s best goalkeeper in the aftermath of Argentina’s Copa America quarter-final victory over Ecuador, a competition that they went on to win. Certainly, when it comes to penalty shootouts at least, the Aston Villa shot-stopper is in a league of his own.

The man who produced arguably the best save of all time in the 2022 World Cup final, Martinez has been worth his weight in gold for Argentina since becoming the South American nation’s first-choice ‘keeper several years ago. The 31-year-old was also named Best Goalkeeper at the 2024 Copa America.

Emiliano Martinez for Aston Villa in 2023/24

Games
47

Goals Conceded
61

Clean Sheets
15

18Granit Xhaka

Bayer Leverkusen and Switzerland

Much-maligned during his time with Arsenal, Granit Xhaka has transformed his reputation since joining Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2023. The combative midfielder played a starring role as Xabi Alonso’s side went the entire Bundesliga campaign unbeaten, ending Bayern Munich’s era of dominance in the process.

Xhaka would stand a far better chance of winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or if Bayer Leverkusen had beaten Atalanta in the Europa League final, and if Switzerland had found a way past England at Euro 2024. Still, take nothing away from the remarkable season he had. The 31-year-old deserves all the plaudits that have come his way in recent months and will play a similarly vital role for the Bundesliga champions in 2024/25.

Granit Xhaka for Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24

Games
50

Goals
4

Assists
2

17Federico Valverde

Real Madrid and Uruguay

Federico Valverde has become a vital cog in Real Madrid’s well-oiled machine. An impressive pass success rate of 91% keeps Carlo Ancelotti’s side in possession of the ball, while also contributing with key passes in terms of assists. Valverde had eight assists to his name during the 2023/24 season. His importance to Real Madrid was confirmed further by the club announcing the midfielder had extended his stay at the club until 2029.

Valverde helped Real Madrid to the La Liga summit, while the 15-time Champions League winners also added to their collection during the 2023/24 campaign after defeating Borussia Dortmund in the final. Players such as Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior may take all the headlines for Real Madrid, the importance of Valverde cannot be underestimated.

Federico Valverde for Real Madrid in 2023/24

Appearances
54

Goals
3

Assists
8

16Florian Wirtz

Bayer Leverkusen and Germany

What a season it was last term for Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen. From relegation candidates when the Spaniard took over to the champions of Germany in less than two years. The rise has been remarkable and there’s no doubt that it’s been an incredible team effort.

Despite that, one individual has seen his stock rise exponentially: the gifted Florian Wirtz. The 21-year-old has long been tipped to reach the top and the 2023-24 season was the first time fans got to see exactly what level he could reach. With 11 goals and 12 assists in the Bundesliga, the wonderkid went on to produce a series of eye-catching performances for host nation Germany at the European Championship.

Florian Wirtz for Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24

Games
49

Goals
18

Assists
20

15Bukayo Saka

Arsenal and England

Bukayo Saka has enjoyed a fine season with the Gunners and topped the charts for both goals (20) and assists (14) among his teammates. The Englishman’s quality ensured Arsenal chased Manchester City until the last day of the 2023-24 campaign, while he also performed well in the Champions League with seven-goal contributions in his first seven games at that level.

He may still only be 23 years old, but Saka has already established himself as one of the best wingers in the world. There’s no doubt that he would have been an even stronger contender for the most prestigious individual award in world football if England had won Euro 2024 or if Mikel Arteta’s side had collected some silverware of their own in 2023/24.

Bukayo Saka for Arsenal in 2023/24

Games
47

Goals
20

Assists
14

14Dani Olmo

RB Leipzig and Spain

When the Ballon d’Or ceremony falls in a year when major international tournaments take place, a player’s chances of honours are magnified by how well they do for their country. This is especially the case for Dani Olmo who, while he has been a reliable source of domination in midfield for RB Leipzig took things to a whole new level at Euro 2024 – helping him seal a big-money move to Barcelona.

The creative livewire typified Spain’s tiki-taka style with his intricate passing and deft positional movement in the middle of the park. Ordered to replace new club teammate Pedri following the wonder kid’s summer-ending injury, Olmo excelled with Spain, scoring three goals and providing two assists as La Roja were crowned Kings of Europe for a third time with victory over England.

Dani Olmo for RB Leipzig in 2023/24

Games
25

Goals
8

Assists
5

13Antonio Rudiger

Real Madrid and Germany

Is there a better centre-back on the planet right now? Antonio Rudiger has been worth his weight in gold for Real Madrid since joining the Spanish giants from Chelsea in 2022.

After winning both La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid this season, there’s no reason why Rudiger shouldn’t be in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or award. But there’s no doubt that his chances would have increased exponentially if Germany had gone all the way at Euro 2024 instead of crashing out at the quarter-final stage.

Antonio Rudiger for Real Madrid in 2023/24

Games
48

Goals
2

Assists
3

12Nico Williams

Athletic Bilbao and Spain

What a rise to success Nico Williams has had this last year. Athletic Bilbao’s tricky winger lit up the domestic stage as he helped them lift the Copa Del Rey, before then following that up with several electric performances during Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.

Scorer of an important goal in the final against England, as well as a further eight at club level in 2023/24, Williams’ performances have put some of Europe’s biggest clubs on notice, with all of them eager to add him to their squads. Despite Barcelona seeming like a likely destination at one point, the 22-year-old will remain at Athletic for the 2024/25 term, where he will hope to boost his chances in the Ballon d’Or race.

Nico Williams for Athletic Bilbao in 2023/24

Games
37

Goals
8

Assists
19

11Erling Haaland

Manchester City and Norway

There are plenty who felt Haaland should have been crowned the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or, but even his 52 goals in all competitions – as City won the treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup – weren’t enough to pip Messi to the post.

He did at least win the Gerd Muller Trophy for best goalscorer and can’t be discounted from winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or given his performances and achievements since January. However, at this stage it feels unlikely – particularly as Norway failed to qualify for Euro 2024, meaning Haaland didn’t have the opportunity to light up this summer’s tournament. That said, he’s started the 2024/25 campaign in blistering form and if he keeps his level of performances up, he’ll certainly be in the conversation for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Erling Haaland for Manchester City in 2023/24

Games
45

Goals
38

Assists
6

10Harry Kane

Bayern Munich and England

Having finally left Tottenham in 2023, the prospect of winning silverware for the first time in his career suddenly looked to be a realistic goal for Harry Kane, but Bayern Munich were unable to stop a resurgent Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso in the Bundesliga.

On a personal level, life in Bavaria has been good for him so far, with Kane breaking all sorts of records with his goals – including that ridiculous strike from the halfway line against Darmstadt. He is the best goalscorer in Europe right now, so he deserves his lofty position on this list. However, Bayern Munich’s failure to win the Champions League may be a negative against the Englishman, who is still waiting for his first major honour following England’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

Harry Kane for Bayern Munich in 2023/24

Games
45

Goals
44

Assists
12

9Toni Kroos

Retired (Was Real Madrid and Germany)

Toni Kroos almost became a forgotten man at Real Madrid until the German midfielder sensationally reminded the world of his exceptional technical ability. The ex-Bayern Munich star has already added to his extensive list of major honours and is now a Champions League winner for a sixth time.

Kroos was still arguably the best passer of a ball on the planet heading into Euro 2024, with his vision and composure being off the charts. However, he played his final game in professional football following Germany’s Euro 2024 quarter-final exit to Spain, after deciding to call time on his illustrious career aged just 34 prior to the tournament getting underway.

Toni Kroos for Real Madrid in 2023/24

Games
48

Goals
1

Assists
10

8Phil Foden

Manchester City and England

Kevin De Bruyne missed a chunk of the 2023-24 season through injury and Phil Foden stepped up in his teammate’s absence. The Manchester City academy product has won plenty of titles before with the club, but while often acting as one of many stars in a stacked team.

Named the Premier League’s Player of the Year, Foden inspired City to a fourth successive Premier League title. The gifted Englishman had his most productive season to date but, despite his best efforts, was unable to get England over the line at Euro 2024.

Phil Foden for Manchester City in 2023/24

Games
53

Goals
27

Assists
12

7Lautaro Martinez

Inter Milan and Argentina

Going purely off league form during the 2023-24 season, there are very few across the globe who played better football than Lautaro Martinez. With 24 Serie A goals and six assists to his name, the Argentine helped Inter Milan secure a 30th league title, culminating with a win over arch-rivals AC Milan.

The 27-year-old continued his fine form while at the Copa America, where he secured the top scorer award with five goals, including the winner in the final against Colombia. As a result of that extra-time winning goal, Martinez’s chances of making the Ballon d’Or podium have improved dramatically.

Lautaro Martinez for Inter Milan in 2023/24

Games
44

Goals
27

Assists
7

6Dani Carvajal

Real Madrid and Spain

Big moments count big time when it comes to the Ballon d’Or, and it was Dani Carvajal who scored Real Madrid’s crucial first goal against Borussia Dortmund in the 2024 Champions League final, heading home from Toni Kroos’ cross. The 32-year-old wasn’t previously among the top 20 candidates prior to the final at Wembley, but that moment propelled him into the top 10.

Carvajal also helped Spain win Euro 2024, so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he’ll become the first defender since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 to win the Ballon d’Or.

Dani Carvajal for Real Madrid in 2023/24

Games
41

Goals
6

Assists
5

5Kylian Mbappe

Real Madrid and France

It feels a little surprising that Kylian Mbappe doesn’t have a Ballon d’Or to his name already. He won the World Cup in 2018 and then netted a hat-trick in the 2022 final as France fell just short at the final hurdle against Argentina in Qatar.

On top of that, he has consistently scored goals and won titles in his homeland with Paris Saint-Germain. And yet, it feels as though the winger may need to achieve Champions League glory if he is to win the Ballon d’Or. His chances of winning the European Cup may improve dramatically in 2024/25 following his move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid, with the Frenchman already scoring in their UEFA Super Cup triumph.

Kylian Mbappe for PSG in 2023/24

Games
48

Goals
44

Assists
10

4Lamine Yamal

Barcelona and Spain

Lamine Yamal cemented his status as a household name of European football at the tender age of 17 thanks to his extremely impressive performances for champions Spain at Euro 2024. The Barcelona sensation wasn’t in the frame for the 2024 Ballon d’Or prior to this summer’s showpiece international tournament, but that’s all changed now. His stunning goal against France in the semi-finals will be spoken about for many years, if not decades, to come.

Yamal also played his part in the final, assisting Nico Williams’ opening goal – his fourth assist of the tournament. The teenager deservedly won Euro 2024’s Best Young Player award and, as a result, he now finds himself in with a serious chance of becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Ballon d’Or award.

Lamine Yamal for Barcelona in 2023/24

Games
50

Goals
7

Assists
10

3Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid and England

Jude Bellingham will almost certainly be on the podium for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award. After the 21-year-old made a huge summer move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, it would have been understandable if it took him some time to settle in. But, of course, this isn’t just any normal footballer.

No, we are talking about Bellingham: the boy from Birmingham who arrived in Spain and took on Zinedine Zidane’s famous number five shirt for Los Blancos as if it was his birthright. The winner of the 2023 Kopa Trophy has scored so regularly in Madrid – including that match-winning brace against rivals Barcelona on his Clasico debut – Cristiano Ronaldo might one day have to be worried about his records with the club. Now a La Liga and Champions League winner, expect to see Bellingham in the mix for the Ballon d’Or later this year, especially after *that* overhead kick goal for England against Slovakia during Euro 2024.

Jude Bellingham for Real Madrid in 2023/24

Games
42

Goals
23

Assists
13

2Rodri

Manchester City and Spain

In the most recent Ballon d’Or rankings, Rodri came fifth, but there is an argument to suggest he should have finished higher. After all, he may well be the most important player in the Manchester City team – and potentially even the world’s best footballer.

Man City lost every Premier League game he missed through injury or suspension last term. He’s potentially even more important to Pep Guardiola than Haaland. Instrumental for his country, too, Rodri deservedly won the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament award after Spain beat England in the final to lift the famous European Championship trophy in Berlin. He might not make as many headlines as Bellingham or Vinicius, but when it comes to success and how crucial a player has been to those triumphs, no player has been more integral to club and country than Rodri.

A long-term injury may work against him, though, and with recent reports claiming that Vinicius Jr has already been told that he’s the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, it’s hard to place him any higher than second.

Rodri for Manchester City in 2023/24

Games
50

Goals
9

Assists
14

1Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid and Brazil

Vinicius Jr was Real Madrid’s star man during the 2023-24 campaign alongside Bellingham, playing a pivotal role as the Spanish giants won both La Liga and the Champions League. No Real Madrid player scored more goals during the Champions League campaign than the gifted South American winger.

His sixth and final goal came at Wembley in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund as Carlo Ancelotti’s side secured a 2-0 win in London – and a record-breaking 15th European Cup. Brazil’s quarter-final elimination in the Copa America threatened to dent his chances of a Ballon d’Or award, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Expect him to become the first Brazilian since Kaka to secure the famous individual prize.

Vinicius Junior for Real Madrid in 2023/24

Games
39

Goals
24

Assists
11