The yr was 2004 and AC Milan icon Andriy Shevchenko claimed his first and solely Ballon d’Or award because the then 28-year-old turned Pavel Nedved’s successor after an unforgettable 2003-2004 season. Organised by France Soccer since 1956, the star-studded nominee record of the Ballon d’Or featured a younger Cristiano Ronaldo, who completed forward of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kaka, Luis Figo, David Beckham and Paolo Maldini. Manchester United’s prodigal son bagged the twelfth spot in his Ballon d’Or debut. Ronaldo then went on to stage an epic rivalry with Lionel Messi as the 2 behemoths turned the Ballon d’Or race right into a near-two-way contest at their careers’ peak.
Ballon d’Or arch-rivals Messi and Ronaldo lifted the Golden Ball a mixed 13 instances from the 2008 version. Securing his first nomination in 2006, Messi sealed his first Ballon d’Or title in 2009 to kickstart his four-year streak of profitable the Golden Ball. The record-time winner can be the reigning Ballon d’Or champion. Messi missed the lower in 2022 however the Argentine stalwart masterminded La Albiceleste’s third FIFA World Cup triumph in the identical yr to stake declare on the Ballon d’Or trophy in 2023. A yr later, neither Messi nor Ronaldo have earned the Golden Ball call-up for the primary time since 2003.
Altering of the guards is imminent in Paris as France Soccer and UEFA will crown the successor of Messi on the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards. Created by France Soccer journal, UEFA and Groupe Amaury will co-organise the famend Ballon d’Or 2024 on 28 October on the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. First awarded to England nice Stanley Matthews in 1956, legends of the gorgeous sport together with Eusebio, Bobby Charlton, George Finest, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane have all received lifted the well-known trophy previously. Who’s subsequent?
Mbappe vs Haaland: No podium end for world-class strikers
Although Actual Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe is featured within the high 30 record, the brand new galactico of Los Blancos would possibly end behind Man Metropolis ahead Haaland. Smashing data at Etihad, Haaland completed the 2023-2024 season with a Premier League title and consecutive Golden Boot. Netting 38 objectives final season, the aim machine is the quickest participant within the Premier League’s historical past to 50 objectives. Positioned 18th within the record of all-time goal-getters within the historical past of the Champions League, Haaland is the youngest to smash 40 objectives within the celebrated match. Nevertheless, a fruitful marketing campaign in top-flight leagues does not assure a Golden Ball this yr. Haaland failed to fireside for Man Metropolis towards Actual Madrid whereas French ahead Mbappe guided Paris Saint Germain (PSG) to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Free-scoring Mbappe dumped Barcelona out of the Champions League however the France captain struggled to engineer PSG’s comeback towards final season’s Champions League runners-up Dortmund within the semi-finals. On the UEFA Euro, Mbappe’s France aspect was eradicated by eventual champions Spain within the semi-finals.
Why is Vinicius main the Ballon d’Or race?
Vinicius had a false begin in his Ballon d’Or bid final season. The Brazilian celebrity was lacking in motion when Carlo Ancelotti-coached Madrid had been determined to crown Karim Benzema‘s inheritor on the Bernabeu. Regaining high kind in the identical injury-marred season, Actual Madrid’s No.7 scored a hat-trick towards Barcelona within the Spanish Tremendous Cup ultimate. Vinicius was additionally the ‘Actual deal’ on the Champions League. The Los Blancos winger was instrumental within the semi-final win over Bayern Munich. Recent from powering Actual Madrid to a record-extending La Liga title, on-song Vinicius scored the winner towards Borussia Dortmund within the UEFA Champions League ultimate. In his comeback season, Vinicius netted 26 instances and chipped in with 12 assists. Including essential titles to his Actual Madrid cupboard, Vinicius made a quiet exit from the worldwide stage. The Actual Madrid celebrity earned a brace towards Paraguay within the Copa America group stage. Suspended from the quarter-finals towards Uruguay, Vinicius was a mere spectator because the Golden Ball candidate noticed Selecao bow out of the competitors on penalties.
Please, make manner for Rodri
Regardless of being the very best holding midfielder on the planet, why cerebral Spaniard Rodri remains to be not closely tipped to win the Golden Ball this yr? A severe contender for the distinguished award final yr, Rodri received the treble with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis. Nevertheless, Rodri was upstaged by Erling Haaland along with his 52-goal contribution in 53 video games. The previous Borussia Dortmund ahead was second solely to Messi because the FIFA World Cup 2022 winner took house his record-eighth Ballon d’Or title in 2023.
Rodri has made it to the nominee record on the again of a formidable unbeaten run with Man Metropolis. Do you know? Guardiola’s males misplaced all of their three matches within the Premier League final season with Rodri being suspended. The Rodri-starrer Man Metropolis aspect final misplaced a Premier League sport in February 2023. The Spanish worldwide did not concede a single defeat on the UEFA Champions League final season. Man Metropolis had been outclassed by eventual champions Actual Madrid on penalties within the quarter-finals after two thrilling attracts. Labelled because the ‘excellent laptop’ by Spain supervisor Luis de la Fuente, Rodri ended a trophy-laden season with La Roja defeating England within the UEFA Euro 2024 ultimate. “Please, give him the Ballon d’Or now!” – what Guardiola mentioned about Rodri, who was additionally named the Participant of the Match on the Euros.
Golden Ball for ‘golden boy’ Bellingham
Similar to Mbappe, playmaker Jude Bellingham was on track for Actual Madrid on his debut. Aiding Actual Madrid’s goal-getters Rodrygo and Vinicius all through the season, Bellingham donned the well-known No.5 jersey and boy did he do justice to Zidane’s previous shirt which got here with a whopping £100 million ($131m) price ticket on the Santiago Bernabeu. Coining Madrid’s sucker punch towards Dortmund within the Champions League ultimate, the Englishman additionally propelled Los Blancos to Clasico wins over FC Barcelona within the La Liga final season. A central midfielder along with his capturing boots on throughout competitions, Bellingham contributed 27 objectives for Madrid and England. With Vinicius lacking a serious chunk of the 2023-2024 season by damage, Bellingham spearheaded the title bid for Los Blancos. Clutch for membership and nation, Bellingham produced 17 assists and headlined the UEFA Euro ultimate. Certain a silver medal at Euros after a near-perfect season cannot price Jude a Golden Ball?
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