2024 is maybe the primary 12 months of soccer in a very long time the place it is laborious to pick one singular standout second of the 12 months. 2023 noticed Manchester Metropolis carry the treble, 2022 was Lionel Messi‘s ascent to immortality, 2021 was Italy’s Euro triumph, and earlier than that, we didn’t need to look previous Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to discover a standout. However in 2024 – for the primary time in years – the standout factor was that there wasn’t a standout second.
And maybe the easiest way to sign the truth that there wasn’t a standout was the truth that neither Messi nor Ronaldo made it into the High 30 of the Ballon d’Or nominees. The award they could not cease profitable at one level had lastly moved on for good.
Soccer in 2024 noticed surprises. Maybe greater than we’re used to. Bayern Munich not gained the Bundesliga, darkish horses Spain gained the Euros, and a defensive midfielder gained the Ballon d’Or. For good heavens, Ivory Coast gained the Africa Cup of Nations after sacking their supervisor mid-tournament!
And what a trip that was. Ivory Coast barely scraped by means of to the knockouts in an AFCON on residence soil. Their supervisor was sacked halfway and the collapse could not look extra calamitous. Neither may the comeback look extra superb than it ended up being. ‘The Elephants’ beat everybody within the knockouts, together with then-defending champions Senegal, to assert a historic AFCON in their very own territory.
What about Bayer Leverkusen? Not solely did they dethrone the seemingly undethronable, they went invincible. Zero losses in 34 Bundesliga video games. Zero losses within the German Cup. And had been it not for a freak Europa League last defeat, it might be zero losses all season. Xabi Alonso on the wheel, Florian Wirtz within the gap, Leverkusen had been the workforce of the 12 months.
Let’s come to Spain. Earlier than Euro 2024, England had been heavyweights. Individuals fancied Germany on residence soil. France are all the time favourites. However one workforce beat all of them. Spain. They did not boast the most effective workforce, however undeniably performed the most effective soccer.
Rodri was a metronome. His hype took away the shine from midfield accomplice Fabian Ruiz who was arguably higher. Nico Williams was a tear on the flanks, and his wing accomplice? Phew. Superlatives fall quick when one tries to explain what Lamine Yamal is doing at 17.
It is laborious to reside as much as the phrases ‘The Subsequent Messi’. However Lamine Yamal might very nicely simply do it.
He completed eighth within the Ballon d’Or. At 17!
Maybe the Ballon d’Or, and the fickle nature of particular person awards, doesn’t deserve the controversy it will get. Nevertheless it should definitely be mentioned to have fun the most effective particular person gamers. The sweetest cream of the crop. And in 2024, there have been three. Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Rodri.
Bellingham flew at Actual Madrid, and was decisive each time the event demanded it. El Clasico winner? Verify. Champions League in your first season at Actual Madrid? Verify. Bicycle-kick ninety fifth minute equaliser on the Euros? Verify.
His teammate Vinicius was stratospheric. If footballers had been superheroes, nobody could be feared greater than Vinicius within the present situation. With no shadow of doubt, the participant in world soccer most able to turning a recreation on its head with the clicking of a finger.
However the golden ball went to Rodri. In a recreation that usually wants you to have a aim tally to problem for the massive honours, Rodri was topped for being the ticking heartbeat of Manchester Metropolis and Spain. Simply take a look at how worse off his membership is, now that he is injured. Rodri was so good {that a} folks wanted to take a seat up and notice {that a} defensive midfielder may be crucial participant on this planet.
Soccer in 2024 was unsure. It was numerous. It had no singular standout. It noticed Pep Guardiola lose eight out of 11 video games. It noticed Kylian Mbappe lastly be a part of Actual Madrid. It was a name again to the pre-Messi and Ronaldo period. And it is time we embrace it.
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