The 30 players in with a chance of winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or, recognising the best male player in the world of the past season, have been revealed.

Real Madrid pair Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior are the hot favourites, with either potentially just the fifth different winner of the last 17 years, largely due to two decades of dominance from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Both Bellingham and Vinicius won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid, scoring 23 and 24 goals respectively. Each was aiming for international success too, but Bellingham’s England lost the Euro 2024 final and Vini’s Brazil fell way short in the Copa America.

Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal will all be among those hoping to finish highly in the final rankings.

Many had expected Messi to be nominated after winning the Copa America again with Argentina. But the 37-year-old was not among the list of nominees. Ronaldo was also absent, having missed out in 2023, making it the first time in 21 years that neither is shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or.

The Ballon d’Or will be presented to the best male player on 28 October at the annual ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

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