Real Madrid Star Vinicius Jr is no longer the 2024 Ballon d’Or favourite after Brazil crashed out of the Copa America
In 2023, Lionel Messi achieved a record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or victory. The accolade was bestowed upon the legendary forward in recognition of his unforgettable year, which culminated in his final World Cup victory with Argentina. Erling Haaland came in second place, but he was unable to secure the award for the first time in his career, despite having won the treble with Manchester City.
Messi is currently playing in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami at the age of 37, and it appears that he is unlikely to add a ninth goal to his collection. Therefore, it appears that the Ballon d’Or is now available for anyone to claim for the first time in years.
In the past, the prestigious individual award was determined by the performance of footballers over the course of a calendar year. Nevertheless, this year, for the second time in the award’s history, the ballots are determined by the season’s results. Consequently, Messi was awarded for his contributions in 2023, which spanned from August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023. Based on their performance thus far this year, we have compiled a list of the 20 most probable candidates for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
