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The year 2004 saw AC Milan icon Andriy Shevchenko win his first and only Ballon d’Or award, as the then 28-year-old succeeded Pavel Nedved after an unforgettable 2003-2004 season. Organised by France Football since 1956, the Ballon d’Or’s star-studded nominees list included a young Cristiano Ronaldowhich ended next Zlatan Ibrahimovic, UncleLuis Figo, David Beckham And Paolo Maldini. Manchester United’s prodigal son finished 12th on his Ballon d’Or debut. ronaldo Then an epic rivalry ensued Lionel Messi Both legends turned the Ballon d’Or race into almost a two-way contest at the peak of their careers.
Ballon d’Or rivals Messi and Ronaldo have won the Ballon d’Or a combined 13 times since the 2008 edition. After receiving his first nomination in 2006, Messi won his first Ballon d’Or title in 2009 and began his four-year streak of winning the Ballon d’Or. Messi is also the reigning Ballon d’Or champion, having won it a record number of times. Messi missed the cut in 2022, but the Argentine legend led La Albiceleste to a third FIFA World Cup triumph that same year and claimed the Ballon d’Or trophy in 2023. A year later, neither Messi nor Ronaldo were called up for the Ballon d’Or for the first time since 2003.
That is soon to change in Paris as France Football and UEFA will crown Messi’s successor at the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards. Produced by France Football magazine, UEFA and Groupe Amaury will co-organise the famous Ballon d’Or 2024 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on 28 October. First awarded to England great Stanley Matthews in 1956, it has included legends of the beautiful game such as Eusebio, Bobby Charlton, George Best. Johan CruyffFranz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane All have won the famous trophy before. Who’s next?
Mbappe vs Haaland: World-class strikers don’t get podium finishes
Although Real Madrid kilian mbappe By virtue of being included in the top 30 list, Los Blancos’ new Galactico could be behind Man City forward Haaland. Breaking records at the Etihad, Haaland finished the 2023-2024 season with a Premier League title and consecutive Golden Boots. Scoring 38 goals last season, the goal machine is the youngest player in Premier League history to score 50 goals in a short time. Ranked 18th on the list of all-time goalscorers in Champions League history, Haaland is the youngest player to score 40 goals in the prestigious tournament. However, a fruitful campaign in the top-tier league does not guarantee a Golden Ball this year. Haaland failed to score for Man City against Real Madrid The free-scoring Mbappe knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League, but the France captain fought back to lead PSG to a comeback against last season’s Champions League runners-up Dortmund in the semi-finals. At the UEFA Euro, Mbappe’s France side lost to eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.
Why Vinicius Who is the frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or?
Vinicius got off to a false start in his bid for the Ballon d’Or last season. The Brazilian superstar was not in action when Carlo Ancelotti-coached Madrid were desperate to win the title Karim Benzema’s successor at the Bernabeu. Regaining top form in the same season filled with injuries, Real Madrid’s No. 7 scored a hat-trick against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. Vinicius was the ‘real deal’ in the Champions League as well. The Los Blancos winger played a key role in the semi-final win over Bayern Munich. After leading Real Madrid to a record La Liga title, the on-song Vinicius scored the winning goal against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final. In his comeback season, Vinicius found the net 26 times and contributed with 12 assists. Adding important titles to the Real Madrid cabinet, Vinicius bid a quiet farewell to the international stage. The Real Madrid superstar scored two goals against Paraguay in the Copa America group stage.
please make way Rhodri
Despite being the best holding midfielder in the world, why is the cerebral Spaniard Rodri still not getting much attention to win the Golden Ball this year? A serious contender for the prestigious award last year, Rodri won the treble with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. However, Rodri was surpassed by Erling Haaland with 52 goal contributions in 53 games. The former Borussia Dortmund forward was second only to Messi as the FIFA World Cup 2022 winner won his record-eighth Ballon d’Or title in 2023.
Rodri has made it to the nominees list on the back of an impressive undefeated run with Man City. Did you know? Guardiola’s men lost all three of their matches in the Premier League last season, when Rodri was suspended. The Rodri-starred Man City side last lost a Premier League match in February 2023. The Spanish international didn’t miss a single defeat in the UEFA Champions League last season. Man City were beaten by eventual champions Real Madrid on penalties in the quarter-finals after two thrilling draws. Labelled as the ‘perfect computer’ by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, Rodri ended a trophy-laden season with La Roja by beating England in the final of UEFA Euro 2024. “Please, give him the Ballon d’Or right now!” – is what Guardiola said about Rodri, who was also named Player of the Tournament at the Euros.
Golden Ball for ‘Golden Boy’ Bellingham
Just like Mbappe, a playmaker Jude Bellingham Was on target for Real Madrid on his debut. Assisting Real Madrid goalscorers Rodrygo and Vinicius throughout the season, Bellingham wore the famous No. 5 jersey and boy did justice to Zidane’s old shirt, which came to the Santiago Bernabeu with a hefty price tag of £100 million ($131m). Starring for Madrid against Dortmund in the Champions League final, the Englishman also inspired Los Blancos to a Clasico win over FC Barcelona in La Liga last season. A central midfielder with his shooting boot across competitions, Bellingham contributed to 27 goals for Madrid and England. With Vinicius missing a large part of the 2023-2024 season due to injury, Bellingham led the title bid for Los Blancos Is it true that Jude cannot be denied the Golden Ball despite winning silver at the Euros after a nearly perfect season?
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