Six England players have been shortlisted for the men’s Ballon d’Or
Six players who played a key role in helping England reach the Euro 2024 final have been named on the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
England captain Harry Kane, along with midfielders Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Declan Rice, and forwards Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer, have been shortlisted for the prestigious Ballon d’Or, which honors the best male footballer of 2024.
Spain and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, who turned 17 in July, is also among the nominees.
England reached the Euro 2024 final but suffered a 2-1 defeat to Spain in Berlin on 14 July.
Among the nominees, there are eight players from Manchester City and Arsenal combined, the two clubs that finished first and second in last season’s Premier League.
No Messi or Ronaldo for first time since 2003
Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who last claimed the award in 2023, is notably absent from this year’s shortlist. This marks the first time since 2003 that neither Messi, 37, nor five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, have featured among the nominees.
With previous recipients Karim Benzema and Luka Modric also left off the list, the 2024 Ballon d’Or is guaranteed to go to a first-time winner.
The award is decided by a jury of journalists representing the top 100 countries in the FIFA men’s world rankings.
Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have been nominated for the Kopa Trophy, which recognizes the best young male player of the year.
Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, who won the Yashin Trophy last year, has once again been shortlisted for the award given to the best goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has been nominated for men’s coach of the year following another Premier League title win with Manchester City.
The winners of the Ballon d’Or and other awards will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on 28 October.
Ballon d’Or nominees
Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
Ruben Dias (Portugal and Manchester City)
Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay and Real Madrid)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
Nico Williams (Spain and Athletic Bilbao)
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen)
Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine and Roma)
Toni Kroos (former Germany and Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
Dani Olmo (Spain and Barcelona)
Florian Wirtz (Germany and Bayer Leverkusen)
Martin Odegaard (Norway and Arsenal)
Mats Hummels (Germany, free agent)
Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
Declan Rice (England and Arsenal)
Vitinha (Portugal and Paris St-Germain)
Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
Bukayo Saka (England and Arsenal)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey and Inter Milan)
William Saliba (France and Arsenal)
Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)
Antonio Rudiger (Germany and Real Madrid)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain and Bayer Leverkusen)