Monday used to be a difficult day because the top players from around the world gathered in Paris for the Award ceremony for the 2024 Ballon d’Orthe 68th edition of the promotion which has been awarded to the best soccer players through the French newsletter France Soccer since 1956, and which is generally considered the most prestigious individual award for the sport. The evolution was not short on drama, as Rodri won the men’s award since Real Madrid did not present the evolution in support of Vinicius Adolescente. But with Rodri out for an extra month due to trauma, next year’s winner probably won’t repeat. Every year there are more skills and players who can win the award, so let’s take a look at the top five contenders for next year’s men’s award.
5. Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid
Let’s start with Kylian Mbappé, who moved from PSG to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 as an independent agent, then his trade with the French giants ended at the end of the 2023-24 season. Despite being one of the most important players in the world, there were negative expectations for him to win the Ballon d’Or this year. For the next one, he can try to put it together, but a lot depends on his performances with Real Madrid, especially taking into account the project that Vinicius Jr. could have later on Monday.
4. Vinicius Jr. Real Madrid
The most debatable decision of the last decade led to Vinicius Jr. not winning the award this year. The Brazilian winger is the face of Real Madrid, despite the arrival of another megastar like Mbappé, and was named the best player of the 2023-24 season with the team coached by Carlo Ancelotti, which won both in the Spanish LaLiga and in the UEFA Champions League, as Vinicius scored the second goal of the 2024 final against Borussia Dortmund. The Brazilian winger was also named the best player of the 2023-24 Champions League, probably the main reason why he was considered the eminent candidate for the Ballon d’Or on Monday. After losing the Ballon d’Or, he can aim to win the first in 2025.
3. Robert Lewandowski, FC Barcelona
Without the 2020 Covid outbreak, the Polish striker would almost certainly have received the 2020 version of the Ballon d’Or when he won the treble with Bayern Munich. He has now returned to work with former Bayern teacher Hansi Flick in Barcelona and the start of the 2024-25 season tells us that he could also return to that level. Furthermore, if Barcelona manages to win some trophies this season, there is no reason to assume why they shouldn’t.
2. Erling Haaland, Manchester City
At the end of the Messi-Ronaldo week, we were all hoping to see the Norwegian striker catch up with Mbappé. However, it will most likely not be Haaland’s year, despite winning and dominating the Premier League again and also scoring 38 goals in 45 games for Manchester Town during the 2023-24 season. Haaland, the best player, is undoubtedly one of those players who will probably win the Ballon d’Or in the coming years.
1. Lamine Yamal, FC Barcelona
The second megastar of world football was on the shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or at the age of 17, becoming one of the youngest to make the shortlist. As well as being shortlisted for the key award, he won the Kopa Trophy, which is awarded to the most efficient young player of the year. There is no doubt that the first month in which we can see Yamal at the Ballon d’Or ceremony is better, since he is expected to be one of the most important and attractive stars of the moment. This year is the month of the Kopa Trophy, but next year he will also return to Paris to raise the most impressive one.
Wild card: Can Christian Pulisic win the Ballon d’Or?
Without a doubt, the USMNT megastar can expect to be chosen in the final record of the 2025 Ballon d’Or considering the admirable start to the season he is having. On the other hand, as Rodri’s victory in 2024 confirmed, a player’s individual performances must be backed by the performances of the teams he performs for. In this sense, the start of the 2024-25 season is not looking admirable for AC Milan. They are suffering under new coach Paulo Fonseca. For Pulisic it would be an admirable success if he could also join the top 30 rankings, and that is something that could really happen.
