Last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembélé, along with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, are leading contenders for this prestigious award. France Football magazine announced the nominations for both the men’s and women’s categories on Tuesday, revealing 30 nominees in each category, with the winners set to be announced at a London ceremony on October 26.
In the women’s category, two-time winner Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, and Melchie Dumornay are emerging as favorites to succeed Aitana Bonmatí, who has won the award for the past three years but was sidelined for much of the season due to injury. Bonmatí made her return late in Barcelona’s remarkable quadruple-winning season, highlighted by yet another Champions League title.
Both Dembélé and Mbappé represented France at the World Cup, where they reached the semifinals but fell to Spain, the eventual champions. While securing a major trophy significantly boosts the chances of winning the Ballon d’Or, Mbappé recently made headlines by becoming the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer, surpassing Lionel Messi with 22 goals in fewer matches.
Having recently clinched back-to-back Champions League titles with Paris Saint-Germain, Dembélé aims to defend his Ballon d’Or title. Kane enjoyed a stellar season, netting 73 goals for club and country and helping Bayern Munich secure the Bundesliga. He also led England to a respectable third-place finish in the World Cup.
The 39-year-old Lionel Messi, who holds a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, is nominated after guiding Argentina to a World Cup runners-up finish and winning the Major League Soccer title with Inter Miami. Notably, other past winners still in the game, such as Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luka Modric, did not make this year’s shortlist.
Dembélé is among nine PSG players nominated for the men’s award, which also includes Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. In a recent interview, Dembélé voiced his belief that the Ballon d’Or will remain in Paris, naming Kvaratskhelia, Kane, and Mbappé as his top picks but excluding himself from consideration.
Other notable nominees include Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid, Ferran Torres—who scored Spain’s decisive goal in the World Cup final—and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham.
Italy, which did not qualify for the World Cup, along with the Netherlands and Germany, had no representatives among the nominees. Lautaro Martínez of Inter Milan is the only Serie A player selected. Notably, no goalkeeper was nominated, which means the legendary Lev Yashin will continue to stand as the sole keeper to have ever won the award, back in 1963.
This year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London, a shift from its traditional Paris venue, to honor the 70th anniversary of the first award, won by English football legend Stanley Matthews.
The Voting System
The Ballon d’Or, established by France Football, has been awarded to men since 1956 and to women since 2018. Voting occurs through journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries for men’s nominations and the top 50 for women’s.
Each journalist selects players in ranked order, assigning points based on position, with the final winner being the one who accumulates the highest points. The award criteria prioritize individual performances, team achievements, and fair play.
This news is significant for soccer fans, as the Ballon d’Or not only highlights the best players of the year but also sparks discussions about talent across different leagues and global competitions. The outcome of this award can influence player movements and team strategies, shaping the future of the sport.
Source: www.foxsports.com
