Sport Nation 2The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees have been officially announced, setting the stage for one of the most prestigious individual awards in the world of football. The annual event celebrates the best performances and achievements in football over the past year, and this year’s list includes some of the biggest names in both the men’s and women’s game. The awards ceremony will take place on October 28, 2024, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Men’s Ballon d’Or Nominees
This year’s Ballon d’Or men’s category features a mix of familiar stars and rising talents from top football clubs worldwide. The full list of nominees includes:
- Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
- Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
- Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
- Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
- William Saliba (Arsenal)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan)
- Rodri (Manchester City)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
- Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
- Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
- Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Mats Hummels (AS Roma)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Nicolas Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
- Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Artem Dovbik (AS Roma)
- Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- Phil Foden (Manchester City)
- Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
- Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
- Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
These players have made significant contributions to their clubs and countries, with some of them helping their teams secure major titles such as the UEFA Champions League, domestic league championships, and international tournaments. Notable names include Kylian Mbappe, who recently transferred to Real Madrid, and Erling Haaland, who had a phenomenal season with Manchester City, contributing to their treble-winning campaign.
Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees
The 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees also represent some of the finest talents in the sport. The full list of nominees is as follows:
- Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)
- Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)
- Barbra Banda (Shanghai RCB/Orlando Pride)
- Tarciane Lime (Houston Dash)
- Manuela Giugliano (AS Roma)
- Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
- Glodis Viggosdottir (Bayern Munich)
- Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona/Arsenal)
- Lauren James (Chelsea)
- Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
- Lea Schuller (Bayern Munich)
- Gabi Portilho (Corinthians)
- Tabitha Chawinga (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
- Lindsey Horan (Lyon)
- Lucy Bronze (Barcelona/Chelsea)
- Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
- Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)
- Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea)
- Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
- Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
- Grace Geyoro (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
- Guilia Gwinn (Bayern Munich)
- Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
- Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg/Barcelona)
- Sophie Smith (Portland Thorns)
- Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Mayra Ramirez (Chelsea)
- Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
These women have displayed incredible talent, determination, and leadership, pushing the boundaries of women’s football on the global stage. Barcelona, a powerhouse in women’s football, is well represented, with several players on the list, including Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas.
Award Categories
In addition to the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, there are other significant categories in the 2024 ceremony:
Men’s Club of the Year Nominees:
- Borussia Dortmund
- Girona
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Real Madrid
- Manchester City
Manchester City is a frontrunner in this category, following their historic treble-winning season where they won the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.
Women’s Club of the Year Nominees:
- Barcelona
- Chelsea
- Lyon
- Paris Saint-Germain
Barcelona, with its dominance in European and domestic football, is expected to be a favorite for this award. Chelsea and Lyon, two consistent performers in women’s football, are also in strong contention.
Men’s Coach of the Year Nominees:
- Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
- Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Luis de la Fuente (Spain National Team)
- Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
- Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
- Lionel Scaloni (Argentina National Team)
Pep Guardiola’s exceptional leadership at Manchester City, leading the club to a treble, places him as a top contender for this award. Lionel Scaloni, who guided Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, also has a strong case.
Women’s Coach of the Year Nominees:
- Sonia Bompastor (Lyon/Chelsea)
- Arthur Elias (Corinthians/Brazil)
- Jonatan Giraldez (Barcelona/Washington Spirit)
- Filipa Patao (Benfica)
- Sarina Wiegman (England National Team)
- Emma Hayes (Chelsea/United States)
Sarina Wiegman, who led England to the Women’s World Cup final in 2023, remains one of the most successful coaches in women’s football. Emma Hayes, with her consistent performance at Chelsea, is also a strong contender.
Yachine Trophy Nominees (Best Goalkeeper):
- Diogo Costa (FC Porto)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund)
- Andrei Lunine (Real Madrid)
- Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
- Giorgi Mamardachvili (Valencia)
- Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
- Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)
- Yann Sommer (Inter Milan)
- Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Emiliano Martinez, the hero for Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, is widely considered the favorite for the Yachine Trophy.
Kopa Trophy Nominees (Best Young Player):
- Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
- Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
- Arda Guler (Real Madrid)
- Karim Konate (RB Salzburg)
- Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
- Joao Neves (Benfica)
- Savinho (PSV Eindhoven)
- Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
The Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player, showcases future stars of football. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho are among the top contenders.
Ceremony Date and Venue
The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October 28, 2024, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The event promises to be a night filled with excitement as the football world celebrates the best individual and team performances of the past year.
As always, the Ballon d’Or remains one of the most coveted awards in football, with the winners etched into the sport’s history. The 2024 edition is expected to be no different, as football’s top stars gather in Paris for a night of celebration and recognition of their achievements.
Sport nation
