The Ballon d'Or 2024 power rankings have been updated following the release of the 30-player shortlist
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham(Image credit: Getty Images)
The shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d'Or was unveiled this week, with the biggest headline being the players who didn't make the 30-player cut.
For the first time since 2003 neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo are nominated for world football's biggest prize, while the only other active previous winners Karim Benzema and Luka Modric were also absent, meaning we will see a first-time winner when the gong is handed out on October 28.
Six England players who helped the Three Lions reach the Euro 2024 final are on the shortlist, as are six players from the triumphant Spain side, while in terms of domestic clubs, seven of Real Madrid's big hitters are all on there, while Manchester City and Arsenal have a combined eight players.
So will Jude Bellingham be able to pip his Bernabeu teammates to the award and join a list of victorious England players that includes Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen?
Here's our Ballon d'Or power rankings, along with the bookies' odds for the prize.
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Ballon d'Or 2024 power ranking: the bookies' odds for the award
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1. Vinicius Junior (4/9)
Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid (Image credit: Getty Images)
The Ballon d'Or is an award that favours the attacking players and last year saw Vinicius Junior truly deliver on the promise he has shown in recent seasons.
The 24-year-old has consistently delivered on the big stage for Real Madrid over the past 12 months, whether that was a hat-trick against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, or his performances in the Champions League, where he followed up two superb games in the semi-final win over Bayern Munich with the second goal against Borussia Dortmund in the final.
A quarter-final exit with Brazil in the Copa America was the only real blot on his copybook, but the judges are likely to reward his exploits with Real Madrid.
2. Rodri (7/4)
Rodri celebrates with Spain (Image credit: Getty Images)
As stated above, this is a prize which is usually reserved for attacking players, but Rodri could prove to be the exception that proves the rule. Defeats for the 28-year-old are as rare as a hen's tooth, with the FA Cup final reverse his first loss in a Manchester City shirt inside 90 minutes for more than a year.
There isn't a player in the world who dominates his position to the extent that Rodri does, with the defensive midfielder developing a habit of providing crucial goals and assists in recent months. His withdrawal at half-time of the Euro 2024 final may be what sees him pipped to the award, however.
3. Jude Bellingham (11/2)
Jude Bellingham has been electric for Real Madrid (Image credit: Getty Images)
Jude Bellingham's first season at Real Madrid was barely believable at times and had this gong been handed out six months earlier, he would have been favourite to win the award.
Injuries and suspension somewhat bought him back down to earth over the second half of the season, but let's not forget he helped Madrid win a La Liga and Champions League double and scored a second El Clasico stoppage-time winner during the run-in.
He provided what will go down as England's most memorable moment at Euro 2024 when he scored an injury-time bicycle kick equaliser against Slovakia in the last-16 and had the Three Lions beaten Spain in the final, he would likely have become the first Englishman since Michael Owen to win the award.
4. Dani Carvajal (8/1)
Dani Carvajal (Image credit: Getty Images)
Even by his trophy-laden standards, Dani Carvajal had a 2023/24 season to remember.
The 32-year-old followed up his fourth La Liga title and sixth Champions League by playing a key part in Spain's Euro 2024 win to complete a campaign for the ages. The right-back was a key cog for both Real Madrid and Spain, but will likely have to be content to bask in his club and country medal haul, rather than add the game's most prestigious individual honour to his collection.
5. Lamine Yamal (11/1)
Lamine Yamal celebrates Spain's Euro 2024 final win (Image credit: Getty Images)
Should the 17-year-old's continue on his current trajectory, then expect him to be a fixture on these kinds of lists in the future.
Barcelona had another tough year as they look to deal with their seemingly never-ending financial issues, but in Yamal they have the game's next superstar. The teenager announced his arrival on the world stage at Euro 2024 and was far more than a bit-part player for the champions.
The fact that Yamal is more fancied than the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland shows you just had good he already is.
Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.
