Five Arsenal stars nominated for Ballon d’Or as shortlists revealed
Jude Bellingham is one of six English players to be nominated for the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or award, with a 30-man shortlist unsurprisingly dominated by Spain European champions, double-winners Real Madrid and the Premier League.
Belllingham, who came 18th in the final award ranking last year, has been selected off the back of his role in England’s run to the final of Euro 2024 as well as Real’s Champions League and LaLiga success last season.
The 21-year-old midfielder is looking to become just the fourth Englishman ever to win the Ballon d’Or, and the first since Michael Owen in 2001. He is joined on the list by Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
The latter four are among the 10 Premier League players to be nominated, alongside Manchester City’s Rodri, Erling Haaland, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, plus Arsenal‘s Martin Odegaard and William Saliba and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez. The Argentine will also be hoping to retain his Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper.
Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 remains the last player from the Premier League to win the Ballon d’Or. This year’s list of nominees is without either one of Ronaldo or great rival Lionel Messi for the first time since 2003.
It is Bellingham’s Real Madrid team-mate Vinicius Jr who is the current odds-on favourite to win the 68th editon of the famous award by France Football.
The Brazilian winger was the star performer in Real’s 15th European Cup triumph, scoring twice in the semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich before settling the final with the second goal in the 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in June.
Lionesses stars Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Lucy Bronze are among the 30 nominees for the sixth edition of the Women’s Ballon d’Or, with the shortlist full of Spain and Barcelona players, namely last year’s winner Aitana Bonmati.
The winners of the prestigious awards will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Paris on Monday, October 28.
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2024 nominees
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan)
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
Artem Dovbyk (Girona and Roma)
Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund and Roma)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Kylian Mbappe (PSG and Real Madrid)
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig and Barcelona)
Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Nico Williams (Athletic Club)
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2024 nominees
Barbra Banda (Shanghai RCB and Orlando Pride)
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
Lucy Bronze (Barcelona and Chelsea)
Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona and Arsenal)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
Giulia Gwinn (Bayern Munich)
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG)
Tarciane Lime (Houston Dash)
Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg and Barcelona)
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
Gabi Portilho (Corinthians)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Mayra Ramirez (Levante and Chelsea)
Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)
Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
Glodis Viggosdottir (Bayern Munich)