Vinicius Junior is the favourite for this year’s award after a brilliant year with Real Madrid, while the likes of England star Jude Bellingham and Manchester City’s Rodri are also in the running
It’s the Ballon d’Or on Monday evening, as the best player in world football in the 2023/24 season is crowned.
Rio Ferdinand has already decided his winner – loudly repeating the phrase over and over again as Vinicius Junior ran through on goal to score against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final (because apparently, that’s what was on everyone’s minds instead of who was going to win the biggest trophy in European club football) – but now the rest of world football gets to have its say.
Thirty players were nominated for the award, which will be voted on by 100 sports journalists – one from each of the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings – after organisers France Football changed the voting mechanism in 2022.
Vinicius Junior is favourite for the award after a stunning season for Real Madrid, but he faces stiff competition from team-mates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal.
Incredibly, this will be the first time in 21 years that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo are in contention for the award after both were excluded from the shortlist of 30.
Messi was crowned last year’s champion for an eighth time – the most any player has ever won the award. Ronaldo, meanwhile, has won it the second-most with five wins, although he holds the record for the most nominations with 18.
With no previous winner nominated for this year’s award, it means we will see a first-time winner on Monday evening – and you can have your say on who you think will win in the poll below.
This year also marks another first, with UEFA joining forces with France Football as co-organiser of the gala, although the football magazine has retained the rights to organise the voting.
FIFA previously co-organised the award between 2010 and 2015 before forming their own The Best awards ceremony.
This year, which is the 68th time the Ballon d’Or will be presented, will also be the first time that awards for best men’s coach and best women’s coach will be given.
So who will win the main award? Have your say in the poll above.
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