The yr was 2004 and AC Milan icon Andriy Shevchenko claimed his first and solely Ballon d’Or award because the then 28-year-old grew to become Pavel Nedved’s successor after an unforgettable 2003-2004 season. Organised by France Football since 1956, the star-studded nominee listing of the Ballon d’Or featured a younger Cristiano Ronaldo, who completed forward of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kaka, Luis Figo, David Beckham and Paolo Maldini. Manchester United’s prodigal son bagged the twelfth spot in his Ballon d’Or debut. Ronaldo then went on to stage an epic rivalry with Lionel Messi as the 2 behemoths turned the Ballon d’Or race right into a near-two-way contest at their careers’ peak.
Ballon d’Or arch-rivals Messi and Ronaldo lifted the Golden Ball a mixed 13 instances from the 2008 version. Securing his first nomination in 2006, Messi sealed his first Ballon d’Or title in 2009 to kickstart his four-year streak of profitable the Golden Ball. The record-time winner can be the reigning Ballon d’Or champion. Messi missed the reduce in 2022 however the Argentine stalwart masterminded La Albiceleste’s third FIFA World Cup triumph in the identical yr to stake declare on the Ballon d’Or trophy in 2023. A yr later, neither Messi nor Ronaldo have earned the Golden Ball call-up for the primary time since 2003.
Changing of the guards is imminent in Paris as France Football and UEFA will crown the successor of Messi on the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards. Created by France Football journal, UEFA and Groupe Amaury will co-organise the famend Ballon d’Or 2024 on 28 October on the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. First awarded to England nice Stanley Matthews in 1956, legends of the gorgeous recreation together with Eusebio, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane have all received lifted the well-known trophy previously. Who is subsequent?
Mbappe vs Haaland: No podium end for world-class strikers
Though Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe is featured within the prime 30 listing, the brand new galactico of Los Blancos would possibly end behind Man City ahead Haaland. Smashing data at Etihad, Haaland completed the 2023-2024 season with a Premier League title and consecutive Golden Boot. Netting 38 objectives final season, the purpose machine is the quickest participant within the Premier League’s historical past to 50 objectives. Placed 18th within the listing of all-time goal-getters within the historical past of the Champions League, Haaland is the youngest to smash 40 objectives within the celebrated match. However, a fruitful marketing campaign in top-flight leagues does not assure a Golden Ball this yr. Haaland failed to fireplace for Man City in opposition to Real Madrid whereas French ahead Mbappe guided Paris Saint Germain (PSG) to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Free-scoring Mbappe dumped Barcelona out of the Champions League however the France captain struggled to engineer PSG’s comeback in opposition to final season’s Champions League runners-up Dortmund within the semi-finals. At the UEFA Euro, Mbappe’s France aspect was eradicated by eventual champions Spain within the semi-finals.
Why is Vinicius main the Ballon d’Or race?
Vinicius had a false begin in his Ballon d’Or bid final season. The Brazilian celebrity was lacking in motion when Carlo Ancelotti-coached Madrid have been determined to crown Karim Benzema’s inheritor on the Bernabeu. Regaining prime type in the identical injury-marred season, Real Madrid’s No.7 scored a hat-trick in opposition to Barcelona within the Spanish Super Cup remaining. Vinicius was additionally the ‘Real deal’ on the Champions League. The Los Blancos winger was instrumental within the semi-final win over Bayern Munich. Fresh from powering Real Madrid to a record-extending La Liga title, on-song Vinicius scored the winner in opposition to Borussia Dortmund within the UEFA Champions League remaining. In his comeback season, Vinicius netted 26 instances and chipped in with 12 assists. Adding essential titles to his Real Madrid cupboard, Vinicius made a quiet exit from the worldwide stage. The Real Madrid celebrity earned a brace in opposition to Paraguay within the Copa America group stage. Suspended from the quarter-finals in opposition to Uruguay, Vinicius was a mere spectator because the Golden Ball candidate noticed Selecao bow out of the competitors on penalties.
Please, make method for Rodri
Despite being the most effective holding midfielder on the planet, why cerebral Spaniard Rodri remains to be not closely tipped to win the Golden Ball this yr? A severe contender for the distinguished award final yr, Rodri received the treble with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. However, Rodri was upstaged by Erling Haaland together with his 52-goal contribution in 53 video games. The former Borussia Dortmund ahead was second solely to Messi because the FIFA World Cup 2022 winner took residence his record-eighth Ballon d’Or title in 2023.
Rodri has made it to the nominee listing on the again of a formidable unbeaten run with Man City. Did you understand? Guardiola’s males misplaced all of their three matches within the Premier League final season with Rodri being suspended. The Rodri-starrer Man City aspect final misplaced a Premier League recreation in February 2023. The Spanish worldwide did not concede a single defeat on the UEFA Champions League final season. Man City have been outclassed by eventual champions Real Madrid on penalties within the quarter-finals after two thrilling attracts. Labelled because the ‘good pc’ by Spain supervisor Luis de la Fuente, Rodri ended a trophy-laden season with La Roja defeating England within the UEFA Euro 2024 remaining. “Please, give him the Ballon d’Or now!” – what Guardiola mentioned about Rodri, who was additionally named the Player of the Tournament on the Euros.
Golden Ball for ‘golden boy’ Bellingham
Just like Mbappe, playmaker Jude Bellingham was heading in the right direction for Real Madrid on his debut. Assisting Real Madrid’s goal-getters Rodrygo and Vinicius all through the season, Bellingham donned the well-known No.5 jersey and boy did he do justice to Zidane’s previous shirt which got here with a whopping £100 million ($131m) price ticket on the Santiago Bernabeu. Coining Madrid’s sucker punch in opposition to Dortmund within the Champions League remaining, the Englishman additionally propelled Los Blancos to Clasico wins over FC Barcelona within the La Liga final season. A central midfielder together with his capturing boots on throughout competitions, Bellingham contributed 27 objectives for Madrid and England. With Vinicius lacking a serious chunk of the 2023-2024 season by way of harm, Bellingham spearheaded the title bid for Los Blancos. Clutch for membership and nation, Bellingham produced 17 assists and headlined the UEFA Euro remaining. Sure a silver medal at Euros after a near-perfect season cannot value Jude a Golden Ball?
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