Who Should Win the 2024 Ballon d’Or? Experts Agree on the Winner
The nominees for the highly anticipated 2024 Ballon d’Or have been announced, and football pundits Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards are in agreement on who should take home the prestigious award. The 30-man shortlist includes six England stars who made a significant impact during their run to the Euro 2024 final. While players like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Harry Kane, and Phil Foden had exceptional seasons, it is Jude Bellingham who stands out as England’s best hope, especially after his impressive debut campaign for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal, Bellingham’s teammates, are also among the frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or. However, Lineker, Shearer, and Richards are in complete agreement that Manchester City’s Rodri is the deserving winner. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, the trio quickly reached a consensus that Rodri should and will win the award.
Premier League legend Alan Shearer confidently stated, “There’s only one player winning it. It can only be him. I think he should win and will win it.” His sentiments were echoed by Gary Lineker, who added, “I think Rodri deserves it. Obviously, they didn’t win the Champions League at City, but they did win the Premier League and then the Euros with Spain, where he was very much their leader.”
Rodri’s successful season at Manchester City in 2023/24, which saw him win the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup, as well as being named player of the competition for the latter, certainly adds weight to his Ballon d’Or campaign. Additionally, being named player of the tournament as Spain won Euro 2024 further enhances his chances.
While Rodri is the unanimous choice among the experts, Vinicius Junior, Bellingham, and Carvajal are also strong contenders. Bellingham, in particular, would have been a significant threat if England had won the Euros. Micah Richards noted, “If Bellingham had won the Euros with England, he would be a big shout, a big possibility.”
The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on October 28. As the anticipation builds, the odds favor Vinicius Junior as the frontrunner, with Rodri following closely behind. However, with the expert consensus pointing towards Rodri’s deserving victory, it will be interesting to see if the odds will shift in his favor as the ceremony approaches.
In conclusion, the experts have spoken, and it seems that Rodri is the standout candidate for the 2024 Ballon d’Or. His exceptional performances for Manchester City and Spain, as well as his leadership qualities, have made him the clear choice for Lineker, Shearer, and Richards. While the odds may favor Vinicius Junior, the experts’ opinions carry significant weight. Football fans around the world eagerly await the Ballon d’Or ceremony to see if Rodri will indeed claim the coveted prize.
*Odds courtesy of Betfair.