For the first time in over two decades, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will feature on the shortlist, symbolizing a definitive end to an era dominated by these two legends. Let’s take a look at the notable names leading the way this year and explore the categories that highlight the sport’s best across various levels.
Notable Nominees for 2024
This year’s Ballon d’Or sees familiar names like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, who have both been unstoppable for club and country, leading the charge. Jude Bellingham’s incredible start at Real Madrid puts him among the favorites, while Vinicius Jr and Rodri further represent the new wave of stars dominating football. The women’s category is equally exciting, with Aitana Bonmatí returning to defend her title alongside rising stars like Trinity Rodman and Alexia Putellas.
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2024 Nominees
Player
Club
Country
Erling Haaland
Manchester City
Norway
Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid
England
Phil Foden
Manchester City
England
Ruben Dias
Manchester City
Portugal
Toni Kroos
Retired
Germany
Federico Valverde
Real Madrid
Uruguay
Nico Williams
Athletic Club
Spain
Artem Dovbyk
Roma
Ukraine
Granit Xhaka
Bayer Leverkusen
Switzerland
Emiliano Martinez
Aston Villa
Argentina
Kylian Mbappé
PSG/Real Madrid
France
Lautaro Martinez
Inter
Argentina
Ademola Lookman
Atalanta
Nigeria
Antonio Rudiger
Real Madrid
Germany
Alejandro Grimaldo
Bayer Leverkusen
Spain
William Saliba
Arsenal
France
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal
England
Dani Carvajal
Real Madrid
Spain
Lamine Yamal
Barcelona
Spain
Hakan Calhanoglu
Inter
Turkiye
Rodri
Manchester City
Spain
Harry Kane
Bayern Munich
England
Declan Rice
Arsenal
England
Vitinha
PSG
Portugal
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
England
Martin Odegaard
Arsenal
Norway
Dani Olmo
Barcelona
Spain
Vinicius Jr
Real Madrid
Brazil
Florian Wirtz
Bayer Leverkusen
Germany
Mats Hummels
Roma
Germany
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2024 Nominees
Player
Club
Country
Aitana Bonmatí
Barcelona
Spain
Lucy Bronze
Barcelona/Chelsea
England
Lauren James
Chelsea
England
Barbra Banda
Orlando Pride
Zambia
Tarciane Lima
Houston Dash
Brazil
Lauren Hemp
Manchester City
England
Trinity Rodman
Washington Spirit
USA
Ada Hegerberg
Lyon
Norway
Manuela Giugliano
Roma
Italy
Mallory Swanson
Chicago Red Stars
USA
Glodis Viggosdottir
Bayern Munich
Iceland
Mariona Caldentey
Barcelona/Arsenal
Spain
Lea Schuller
Bayern Munich
Germany
Patri Guijarro
Barcelona
Spain
Gabi Portilho
Corinthians
Brazil
Tabitha Chawinga
PSG
Malawi
Caroline Graham Hansen
Barcelona
Norway
Lindsey Horan
Lyon
USA
Sjoeke Nüsken
Chelsea
Germany
Yui Hasegawa
Manchester City
Japan
Salma Paralluelo
Barcelona
Spain
Alexia Putellas
Barcelona
Spain
Grace Geyoro
PSG
France
Khadija Shaw
Manchester City
Jamaica
Giulia Gwinn
Bayern Munich
Germany
Sophia Smith
Portland Thorns
USA
Ewa Pajor
Barcelona/Wolfsburg
Poland
Mayra Ramirez
Levante/Chelsea
USA
Alyssa Naeher
Chicago Red Stars
USA
Marie-Antoinette Katoto
PSG
France
Kopa Trophy (Best U21 Player) 2024 Nominees
Player
Club
Country
Lamine Yamal
Barcelona
Spain
Alejandro Garnacho
Manchester United
Argentina
Pau Cubarsí
Barcelona
Spain
Arda Güler
Real Madrid
Turkiye
Karim Konaté
RB Salzburg
Ivory Coast
Kobbie Mainoo
Manchester United
England
Joao Neves
PSG
Portugal
Savinho
Manchester City
Brazil
Mathys Tel
Bayern Munich
France
Warren Zaire-Emery
PSG
France
Yacine Trophy (Best Goalkeeper) 2024 Nominees
Player
Club
Country
Diogo Costa
FC Porto
Portugal
Gianluigi Donnarumma
PSG
Italy
Gregor Kobel
Borussia Dortmund
Switzerland
Andriy Lunin
Real Madrid
Ukraine
Mike Maignan
AC Milan
France
Giorgi Mamardachvili
Valencia
Georgia
Emi Martinez
Aston Villa
Argentina
Unai Simon
Athletic Club
Spain
Yann Sommer
Inter
Switzerland
Ronwen Williams
Malemodi Sundowns
South Africa
Men’s Club of the Year 2024 Nominees
Club
Country
Manchester City
England
Girona
Spain
Real Madrid
Spain
Borussia Dortmund
Germany
Bayer Leverkusen
Germany
Women’s Club of the Year 2024 Nominees
Club
Country
Barcelona
Spain
Chelsea
England
NY/NJ Gotham
USA
Lyon
France
PSG
France
Best Coach of a Men’s Team 2024 Nominees
Coach
Club/National Team
Country
Carlo Ancelotti
Real Madrid
Italy
Xabi Alonso
Bayer Leverkusen
Spain
Luis de La Fuente
Spain National Team
Spain
Lionel Scaloni
Argentina National Team
Argentina
Pep Guardiola
Manchester City
Spain
Gian Piero Gasperini
Atalanta
Italy
Best Coach of a Women’s Team 2024 Nominees
Coach
Club/National Team
Country
Emma Hayes
Chelsea/USWNT
England
Sonia Bompastor
Lyon/Chelsea
France
Arthur Elias
Corinthians/Brazil National Team
Brazil
Jonathan Giraldez
Barcelona/Washington Spirit
Spain
Filipa Patao
Benfica
Portugal
Sarina Wiegman
England National Team
Netherlands
End of an Era: Messi and Ronaldo Omitted
For the first time in over 20 years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have not been nominated for the Ballon d’Or. The two legends have dominated the award for over a decade, winning it 13 times since 2008. However, with Ronaldo now playing in Saudi Arabia and Messi in MLS, both have stepped out of the European spotlight.
Their absence marks a shift in football’s landscape as new talents like Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappé take center stage. While Messi and Ronaldo’s impact on the game will remain unparalleled, the 2024 Ballon d’Or signals the end of an era and the beginning of a new generation of football superstars.
The Changing of the Guard
The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees represent a transition in football. With Messi and Ronaldo out of the running,players like Haaland, Bellingham, and Mbappé now have the chance to make their mark. As the gala ceremony approaches, fans will be watching closely to see who will emerge as the next great icon of the sport.
