Ballon d'Or 2024: Ceremony takes place on October 28, Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham in running to dethrone Lionel Messi - TNT Sports (2024)

The 68th edition of the prestigious Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 28 in Paris.

Groupe Amaury - the owners of France Football - have now agreed to take on the mantle and partner with European football's governing body.

Aside from the Ballon d'Or and Ballon d'Or Feminine awards, the ceremony will also see the winners of the Kopa Trophy (best player under 21 years of age), Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), Gerd Muller Trophy (top scorer of the previous season), Men’s Club of the Year Trophy and Women’s Club of the Year Trophy all named.

Meanwhile, a host of the game's top male and female coaches will hope to win two new prizes that have been added to the list of honours - Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year.

The official list of nominees will be announced on September 4, but below are two lists of the leading contenders from the men’s and women’s games who will hope to win the coveted accolade.

Vinicius Jr.

The Brazilian enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2023/24 after winning his second UEFA Champions League title, and a third La Liga crown.

Despite a slow start to the season that was hampered by injuries, Vinicius scored 24 goals and claimed 11 assists across 39 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid, enhancing his credentials as one of the game's most prolific marksmen.

There is still time for more glory for the 23-year-old this year, as he embarks on the Copa America with Brazil this summer.

Jude Bellingham

Bellingham's stock continues to rise after an extraordinary first year at Real Madrid, which yielded a La Liga and Champions League double, alongside a Spanish Supercup.

The 20-year-old scored 23 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions, which included five goals in his first four games in the Spanish top-flight.

His two stoppage-time winners in the El Clasico clashes against Barcelona were among the main highlights of a stellar campaign, and will hope to add European glory with England to his CV this summer too.

Phil Foden

Last season was when Foden came of age, adding to his already bulging trophy cabinet with a sixth Premier League winners' medal at Manchester City.

Champions League glory may have eluded the 24-year-old on this occasion, but he continues to be a young man for the very biggest occasions.

His brace on the final day of the season against West Ham United secured City an unprecedented fourth Premier League title in a row, and, like Bellingham, will be aiming to have a UEFA Euro 2024 winners' medal around his neck on July 14.

Kylian Mbappe

The endless speculation surrounding Kylian Mbappe and a proposed move to the Bernabeu is finally over, and the Real Madrid bound forward looks to be a good bet to end his quest for a first Golden Ball.

The 25-year-old ended his time at Paris Saint-Germain with a flourish after winning a third consecutive Ligue 1 title, but is still yet to win a UEFA Champions League title which he eagerly craves.

That could come in the Spanish capital very soon, while adding a European Championship winners' medal to the World Cup one he achieved in 2018, could tip the scales in his favour.

Harry Kane

The England captain took to life in Germany like a duck to water, with 44 goals in 45 games across all competitions for Bayern Munich.

Silverware continues to elude the 30-year-old though, as Bayer Lueverkusen sensationally ended the Bavarians' 11-season monopoly on the Bundesliga title.

Leading the Three Lions to their first major trophy in 58 years could be the iconic moment which Kane needs to take that coveted award.

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Aitana Bonmati

The 26-year-old is emerging as the key favourite to retain the Golden Ball she won last year, in a career which is going from strength to strength.

She helped to put Chelsea to the sword in the Women's Champions League semi-finals before scoring in the final, as Lyon were dispatched 2-0 in Bilbao.

Bonmati is thriving internationally too, adding the UEFA Women's Nations League to her World Cup winners' medal, and she could strike gold at the Olympics as well.

Caroline Graham Hansen

Bonmati's Barcelona team-mate scored 30 goals in a stellar campaign to help the Catalans claim a quadruple of honours.

Despite not scoring in the Women's Champions League final, she put in a pulsating performance and has surely brought herself into the reckoning for the award.

Lauren James

The chances of a Women's Super League player taking the top award appear to be slim, but Lauren James has enjoyed another fine season with Chelsea.

The Blues ended Emma Hayes' trophy-laden spell as boss with a third consecutive WSL crown and a seventh overall, but her hopes of European glory were ended by an all-conquering Barcelona team in the semi-finals.

Still, 18 goals across all competitions in 2023/24 means she is arguably England's best hope of winning the award.

Kadidiatou Diani

A summer move from Paris Saint-Germain to French rivals Lyon has given Diani a higher profile which makes her a contender for a first women's Ballon d'Or crown.

She was a golden boot winner in the Women's Champions League and claimed a Division 1 Feminine and Trophee des Championnes double.

The 29-year-old could also strike gold with France in this summer's home Olympic Games in Paris, which would only enhance her prospects.

Alexia Putellas

A two-time Ballon d'Or winner is an outsider in her hopes to claim the prize for a third time, with injuries somewhat halting the Spaniard's momentum.

However, a fantastic goal in the Women's Champions League final against Lyon proves she is still a player for the very biggest occasions.

Achieving an Olympic gold medal with La Roja this summer, would move the 30-year-old firmly into contention to win the accolade again.

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