By Miguel Rapetti
04 Sep 2024, 18:15 PM EDT
Brazilian winger Vinícius Jr., French striker Kylian Mbappé and recently retired German midfielder Toni Kroos, all from Real Madrid, are part of the long list of 30 candidates who will aspire to win the 2024 edition of the Ballon d’Or to be held on October 28 in Paris.
Vinícius Jr. and Kroos, as well as right-back Dani Carvajal, also from Real Madrid, are among the main candidates due to their performance in the previous season, which included winning the 15th UEFA Champions League title in the history of the Merengue institution.
Mbappé, who has just arrived at the Spanish club, appears as a nominee for his performance with PSG, where he scored 44 goals and provided 10 assists in 48 matches played with the Parisians, to leave for free at the end of his contract.
Additionally, two other Real Madrid players, Uruguayan Federico Valverde and German centre-back Antonio Rüdiger, make up the initial list of candidates for the Ballon d’Or.
Among the nominees announced on Wednesday are names such as Erling Haaland, Martin Ödegaard, Declan Rice, Vitinha and Harry Kane.
As if that were not enough, the Euro 2024 champions with Spain, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Grimaldo are also joining, and the Latin American presence is headed by the champion of America, Argentina, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and forward Lautaro Martínez.
At a ceremony in which, for the first time since 2003, neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Leo Messi will be nominated, Yamal, who turned 17 last July, will become the youngest player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
His name also appears in the nominations for the Kopa Trophy for best young player, alongside figures such as Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) and Arda Guler (Real Madrid).
In the goalkeeper category, the list of ten nominees includes the Spaniard Unai Simón, again the Argentine Emiliano Martínez and the Swiss from Inter Yann Sommer, among others.
As for the coaches’ trophy, the Spanish dominate, with Xabi Alonso, Pep Guardiola and coach Luis de la Fuente. They will face Italians Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid) and Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), as well as Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni.
Continue reading:
- Mbappé scores his first LaLiga double with Real Madrid
- Kylian Mbappé spoke about the drought he broke with Real Madrid in the Spanish LaLiga
- Vinícius Jr. believes that if racism continues in Spain, the venue for the 2030 World Cup should be changed