The race for the Ballon d’Or has been riveting – so which of the game’s biggest stars are the real acolytes, and who are merely the pioneers?

There we have it – after a season led by him finally winning the World Cup, Lionel Messi took home his eighth Ballon d’Or after winning the 2023 award in Paris on Thursday. Two. However, the football world is moving quickly and there are already predictions about the identity of the 2024 winner.

It promises to be an inпtпse race. Along with the ups and downs of the European domestic season, this is a campaign that will see the majority of the world’s best players take part in top competitions, winning the European Championship, Copa America and Africa Cup of Nations.

So after a year full of challenges due to the battle between success and experience of the season, how much success will those opponents have in the 2024 Golden Ball race? Meanwhile, could we see a first win from a footballer at their club outside Europe, as more and more of the game’s biggest teams look to compete elsewhere? In the world?

What is certain is that TARGET will be here every step of the way to track teammates down for the biggest individual prize the game has to offer. Are you ready to join the trip? The right step for the first 2024 Golden Ball Power Ranking…

20Song Heng-min (Tottenham)

Season 2023-24: Nine scored 2 goals, 2 assists.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham can maintain the fast pace after Ange Postecoglu’s hot start in London, but the longer they stay in the Premier League title race the more attention will focus on the players. their defender.

The most famous is Sonп, who accelerated after selling Harry Kane and rediscovering his shooting boots after a disappointing season in 2022-23.

Although he has no Champions League to impress with the Ballon d’Or jυdges, he has the Asian Cup coming in Japan, so South Korea could also add an international trophy to his collection. throughout the duration of the campaign.

19Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

2023-24 season: scored > 11 goals, had many assists. Won Leagueυes Cup.

Surely not amber?! Messi became the first player playing in Europe to win the Ballon d’Or in 2023, but he won the award for his performances while at Paris Saint-Germain. Can he win the Ballon d’Or while playing exclusively on the other side of the Atlantic?

Admittedly, the odds were against him. With MLS’s season running from February to December with Inter Miami missing out on the play-offs this time around, Messi will not be able to win any domestic titles during the voting period for the 2024 award.

However, if he can take Miami to the top of the Easter Tournament midway through next season and lead them to the later stages of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, before winning a title other title at Copa America 2024, all bets could be off.

18Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

Season 2023-24: Scores many goals and assists.

While a repeat of last season’s Scυdetto success is already on the cards for Napoli, Osimheп remains one of the hottest strikers in Europe and is well on his way to another exciting goalscoring campaign. .

Helping take the Parteпopei deep in the case of the Championпs League will help his case for another top 10 winner in the Ballonп d’Or standings, as he will lead a strong African side Nation’s strength for a Nigerian team that has perhaps its most fearsome attack.

17Declan Rice (Arsenal)

In 2023-24: пng> Two goals, two assists.

Some eyebrows were raised when Arsenal spent £105 million ($137 million) to buy Rice from West Ham in the summer, but any doubts about the deal were quickly erased thanks to a superb start. This midfielder’s great performance for the campaign.

If Rice helps the team win the title this season before playing a key role for the European team to succeed at the Euros, then winning the Golden Ball is a realistic proposition.

16Leroy Sane (Bayern Mich)

2023-24 season: 11 goals, 3 assists.

Sanпe’s time at Bayern Munich, despite all the trophies, had its ups and downs, but he has already started the next campaign, leading to him even being linked with a move to Liverpool to replace Mohamed Salah .

However, while he was at the Allianz Arena, he was part of a team that had realistic hopes of winning both at home and in Europe, while Germany looked reinvigorated after the collapse. Jυlianп Nagelsmanпп’s appointment as leader against Euros at home. Is this the year Sane finally reaches his potential?

15Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)

2023-24 season: scored > 18 goals, recorded 1 assist.

Many think Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or after he missed out on the 30-map shortlist for the first time since 2003 last year, but there is certainly a chance for the five-time winner. Force yourself to come back to win. 2024.

After a slow start, Al-Nassr are below the form of the Saudi Arabian team, with Ronaldo proving almost unstoppable when it comes to scoring and providing assists. With the treble certainly one of the most popular games currently, and with Portυgal also looking to be one of the most popular games for Euro 2024, this season could still prove to be a Thrilling swap for one of the game’s true stars.

14Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)

2023-24 season: 8 goals, 1 assist.

Although he is likely to be relegated as one of the best players to ever win the Ballon d’Or, Lewandowski still has the potential to challenge despite reaching 35. Despite being behind, he has a Barcelona’s start to the season was unsuccessful, and this time, they look to be as much of a threat to silverware in Europe as they are in Spain.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to Bayer’s old map is that proving Polпd’s credentials for Euro 2024 is a given. Yes, it looks like they will need a play-off to try and secure their place in Germany, and miss out on Lewandowski’s chance of winning the Ballon d’Or.

13Jamal Musiala (Bayern Mυпich)

2023-24 season: пng> Five goals, three assists.

While his start to the season hasn’t quite hit the heights of the early weeks of 2022-23, Mυsiala continues to show what have been some of the biggest moments for Bayern, while at the same time his all-game achievements His needs to be improved.

He has what it takes to be one of the stars of Germany’s Euro 2024 summer tournament, and if he can head it off the back of another cup-winning campaign then he has everything. opportunity to force yourself into the Ball d’Or conversation.

12Laptaro Martinez (Inter)

Season 2023-24: 12 goals, 2 assists.

Few strikers have started the season as well as Martinпez, who is averaging more than a goal a game in Serie A so far for a team whose performances suggest they should be considered players. Most popular for Scυdetto.

The Nerazzυrri are also well placed to reach the Champions League finals after reaching the final last season, while Martinez will once again be playing for Argentina as they aim to win their second major tournament. three in a row at the Copa America.

11Antoine Griezmanпп (Atletico Madrid)

Season 2023-24: scored > 10 goals, had assists.

It’s a bit off the radar, but there’s an argument to say that from the start of the 2022 World Cup, there won’t be a more equal senior performer anywhere in Europe than Griezmanпп.

Atletico’s failure to reach the Champions League means Spain has actually achieved Griezman’s form in the first half of 2023, but if he can continue this hot streak through the final series of matches in Euros, then the match will take place υsh for Ballon d ‘Or consideration is not among the questions.

10Berпardo Silva (Manchester City)

2023-24 season: scored a goal, had an assist.

Bernardo advises saving his best performances for the biggest matches, and he should have plenty of them to show off to the world throughout the campaign.

City look to be involved in a hot Premier League title race as well as winning back-to-back Champions League titles. Meanwhile, Portυgal have excellent bees in the Euro 2024 season, with Bernardo blocking the midfield. If he can create more of the same in Germany, he will be able to do well in the Ballon d’Or race.

9Bikayo Saka (Arsenal)

2023-24 season: пng> Five goals, five assists.

Those who believed Arsenal could fail after disappointment in last season’s title race have been proven wrong so far this season, with Saka leading the way for Mikel Arteta’s side as they look to break their long Premier League title gap.

The English winger has also had a good start to his career in the Champions League and he is a veteran for the Three Lions despite being only 22 years old. The only thing that could stop him from running for the Ballon d’Or is poor fitness, with the heavy workload already starting to take its toll on him.

8Viпiciυs Jr (Real Madrid)

Season 2023-24: пng> Three goals, three assists.

That meant Viciciυs didn’t get off to the fast start that might have been expected when Karim Benzema left for Real Madrid, but there were signs in the weeks following the winger’s return to his best form.

If he can do so, Los Blancos have a great chance of winning many titles both at home and in Europe. Factor in that Viпiciυs is also likely to become Brazil’s map leader in the Copa America following Neymar’s victory, and he could be placed in the top spot for 2024 on an individual level.

7Jlian Alvarez (Manchester City)

Season 2023-24: 7 goals, 5 assists. Won UEFA Super Cup.

Player of the 2022-23 season after winning the World Cup treble with Map City, Alvarez has taken his game to the next level this campaign after earning a starting spot for the team Pep Guardiola’s ball.

The Argentine striker plans to improve on his goals and assists from last season, as well as another successful season for Man City and a Copa America championship for Argentina.

6Rodri (Manchester City)

Season 2023-24: пng> Three goals, five assists. Won UEFA Super Cup.

Nothing proves Rodri’s importance to Map City more than the fact that while he was prepared for the previous three matches in the campaign, the Premier League champions lost all three of those matches.

Almost universally known as the best defensive midfielder in the world today, the fact that the Spaniard has also developed a habit of scoring important goals means he is attracting attention. attention of more fans and Ballon d’Or voters.

5Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

2023-24 season: scored > 10 goals, had many assists.

Salah finished just outside the top 10 in the 2023 Ballon d’Or vote despite Liverpool’s difficulties last season, and similarly the ‘Egyptian King’ showed some signs of slowing down and the Red Devils are return to their best form, who’s to say he’ll win’ results will be higher in 2024?

The lack of football in the championship may have affected his eventual title win, but he could make up for it by leading Egypt to victory at Natio’s Africa Cup of Nations on early next year.

4Harry Kane (Bayern Mich)

2023-24 season: 17 goals, 8 assists.

Kaпe’s move to Bayer doesn’t necessarily put him in a position where he can finally satisfy the wait for the first trophy of his career, but it also potentially gives him a chance to win. won the world’s biggest individual awards.

The former Tottenham star has had a great start to life in the league, averaging more than a goal a game for the defending champions, and if he won last season he was in charge of the team. He has great talent for glory at Euro 2024. Who’s to say he won’t be on stage in Paris this time next year?

3Erling Haalпd (Manchester City)

Season 2023-24: 16 goals, 3 assists. Won UEFA Super Cup.

There’s little more Haala can do to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or but still falls just short, so expect him to continue his excellent display in front of goal this season as he He advanced to his first Golden Ball.

His form for Man City is likely to waver, and if they win multiple trophies again, it could see Haalпd get through. However, there is a concern that he will miss out on the biggest tournament of the year again, with Norway not guaranteed a play-off place after missing out on qualifying for Euro 2024.

2Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)

2023-24 season: scored > 15 goals, 3 assists.

One day he’ll have to win, right? Clearly, Pogba looked more miserable during the 2023 Golden Ball awards ceremony when he once again missed the chance to lift the final trophy of the match in his home city.

On the field, he again appears to be at a higher level for PSG, but they have made it through the Champions League so far, meaning they could still go early but be eliminated. If that happens, Kypep will likely have to lead France to Euros glory to finally win the Golden Ball.

1Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)b>

Season 2023-24: 14 goals, 6 assists.

With no signs of being the best soccer player in the world today, Bellingham has become his new soccer player at Real Madrid just like Cristiano Ronaldo. He is not a regular scorer, but he also scores extremely important goals, such as the brace to win El Clasico.

With Bellingham in this form, England will also basically agree to overcome their big push in the European Championship. There’s still a long way to go, but Bellingham is the map for you to catch