Ballon d’Or Prediction: Who is worthy of the golden ball in 2024?

Every year the age old debates sparks in bars, gardens, around the braai stand in off track betting shops around the world. Who is the worlds best footballer? throughout the 2010's this debate involved two main figures. One Cristiano Ronaldo and the other Lionel Messi. Regardless of whichever side of the coin you stood. This debate would ultimately be settled by the Ballon d'Or. Although many times not everyone would agree with the Ballon d'Or outcome, one thing is for sure we all have our favourite. This year, we may see a new footballer ascend to the throne. whether it is Mbappe, Haaland, Bellingham or even Phil Foden. You have a chance to place your bet on an eventual winner.

Here are some markets you can add to your bet slip...

Ballon d'Or - Lionel Messi 14/1

Lionel Messi won the last Ballon d'Or, Although many football fans thought that he didn't deserve it because he wasn't displaying the peak he was at when he was still in the Blue and Red of Barcelona. The World Cup truimph was enough to get most people on the voting panel to back the Barcelona great and put him ahead of Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham who had just joined Real Madrid at the time and Kevin De Bruyne. If he was to make it 9 by winning again this year. It would be an impressive feat, especially considering the he has the left the European top flight and he now playing for David Beckham's Inter Miami. Maybe winning the Copa America 2024 may be enough to sway the vote

Ballon d'Or - Rodrigo, Hernandez Cascante 12/1

Manchester City's pillar of strength and their first reference point in attack. Rodri has been one of the main contributors to Manchester City's success. He took over from Fernandinho and made Manchester City fans forget about the Brazilian star. He scored the crucial goal in last season's UEFA Champions League Final and carried Manchester City over the line. He is one of the unsung heroes in this generation of midfielders that have featured for Manchester City. As much as in my personal capacity he would secure my vote for a place in history. The Ballon d'Or celebrates the most stand out talents in world football and as good as Rodri is. He is not the first name in most journalists minds when you think of a Ballon d'Or winner. The odds on him are set at 12/1.

Ballon d'Or - Phil Foden 10/1

To say Phil fodder has come of age is an understatement. In this age that is full of young English talent making world football their own. Phil Foden has graduated from being just another name at Manchester City to being one of the main stars at the club. A few seasons ago, he was playing back up to Riyad Mahrez, who left the club for the Saudi Pro League. Instead of investing in an a replacement for Mahrez, Manchester City gave Foden the game time he has deserved for so long.

With the Euros coming up over the June/July period. He is one of the stand out players in Englands star studded side. at Age 23 he has 33 caps for the national team and 4 goals scored. in the 23/24 season, he has scored 14 goals in 30 appearances in the Premier League. This has contributed to an impressive 22 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions he has played in this season. Will this be enough to throw his name in the hat for Ballon d'Or top 3?

Well, He will have to shine at the Euros. if he is going to get ahead of his teammates both at club level and at International level. The odds on him being the Ballon d'Or winner in 2024 are set at 10/1. as much as he has collected plenty of accolades at club level, including 5 Premier League titles, 4 English League cups, 2 FA Cups, a Champions League Title, Fifa Club World Cup title and a UEFA Supercup. he has not collected as many individual accolades.

Ballon d'Or - Erling Haaland 9/1

6 time Footballer of the year across Austria, Norway and England. 2 time Player of the season, once in Austria and once in England. 6 time golden Boot winner, Including once in the UEFA  Champions League with 12 goals in the 22/23 season and once in the Premier League when he netted 36 goals in the 22/23 season. When you mention invidual accolades no players is more familiar with receiving recognition for his effort like Earling Haaland. He also received Manchester City's Player of the year in 2023. He had the perfect debut season for Manchester City, bringing home the quadruple and landing himself in the Ballon d'Or conversation.

With 90 appearances for Manchester City and fast approaching a century of goals for the club. Erling Haaland is a footballer that many who will be voting for this season's winner of this coveted individual award will be itching to name as the winner. This season, injuries slowed him down but he still managed to get 31 goals and 6 assists in his 39 appearances for the sky blues this season. This despite missing 10 matches in all competition for Manchester City due to injury. He is an absolute work of art, a classic number 9.The kind of player that makes you wonder what could have been if the injuries didn't slow him down in the 23/24 season.

Ballon d'Or - Harry Kane 6/1

After 435 Appearances, 280 goals and 62 assists for Tottenham Hotspurs. Harry Kane decided to leave the Premier League and Join Bayern Munich, to fill a void that was left by Robert Lewandowski when he moved on to Barcelona. The number 9 jersey at Bayern Munich was tailor made for centre forwards like Harry Kane and he has proved that by netting 40 goals in 41 appearances for the German Giants. This is without mentioning the 13 assists he has registered for Bayern Munich since signing. To put that into context, Harry Kane has 53 goal contributions in all competition with 41 appearances. To say that he has not been sensational this season would be a crime against football.

It is unfortunate that his contributions failed to bring the Bundesliga title, however, at the publishing of this article Bayern Munich are in the Semi Finals of the UEFA Champions League and they are set to face serial Champions League winners, Real Madrid. Bring it to the Bavarian giants will definitely boost his ranking in the Ballon d'Or standing for 2024. If was to finish the season off with a UEFA Euros title. The 30 year old goal machine would he my favourite to take the golden ball home this season.

Ballon d'Or - Jude Bellingham 3/1

The boy who can do no wrong. Dortmund's Player of the year 22/23, Germany's Player of the year 2023. His career has started like no other. He is;

• Youngest English player to start a Champions League match at age 17 years, 113 days old
• Youngest English player to start a Champions League knockout game at age 17 years, 233 days
• Youngest English player to score in the Champions Leauge at age 17 years, 289 days old
• Youngest English player to score in consecutive Champions League matches at age 18 years, 78 days old.
• Youngest player to start 10 Champions League games at age 18 years, 91 days old
• First English teenager to score in three different Champions League campaigns 20/21, 21/22, 22/23.
• Yongest captain to score in a Champions League match  at age 19 years, 98 days old.
• Third-youngest captain in Champions League history aged 19 days, 98 days old, behind Ruben Neves who captained Porto against Maccabi Tel Aviv aged 18 years, 211 days old.

Jude Bellingham's footballing career has been the stuff of legend. That is before you unpack his individual accolades. Individually he has been awarded;

• 2019/20: Birmingham City – Young Player of the Year
• 2019/20: EFL Young Player of the Season
• 2020/21: VDV Bundesliga Newcomer of the Season
• 2021/22: VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season
• 2021/22: Bundesliga Team of the Season
• 2021: Kopa runner-up
• 2022: IFFHS Men’s World’s Best Youth Player
• 2022/23: ESPN Midfielder of the Year
• 2022/23: Bundesliga Team of the Season
• 2022/23: Bundesliga Player of the Season
• 2022/23: VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season
• 2022/23: VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season
• 2023: Kopa Trophy
• 2023: FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11
• 2023: Globe Soccer Awards – Emerging Player of the Year
• 2023: IFFHS Men’s World’s Best Youth Player
• 2023: IFFHS Men’s World Team
• 2024: Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award

he is the Boy who can do no wrong. Even in a star studded Real Madrid line up he stands out like a sore thumb. A player that world football has been waiting for. In the 23/24 season he has made 36 appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions, he scored 21 goals and contributed 10 assists. All of this while playing the number 10 role behind the strikers. Will Bellingham join Ronaldo Nazario as the youngest winner of of the Ballon d'Or at age 21? If he manages to win the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid and England come home with the UEFA Euros. He definitely has to take the golden ball. He is a sensational player and the footballing world is at his feet.

Ballon d'Or - Kylian Mbappe 11/4

Odds on favourite to win the golden ball. Kylian Mbappe at age 25 he has won everything to win in world football except this coveted individual award. He is the captain of his national team having made 77 appearances, and scored 46 goals for Les Bleus. The 2018 World Cup winner has won every trophy available to him, except the UEFA Champions League. With Paris Saint-Germain having knocked Barcelona out of the competition to advance to the Semi Finals of this season UEFA Champions League. With rumours circulating about his future with PSG, this might be his last chance to bring the UEFA Champions League back to France for the first time since Marseille did it over 2 decades ago.

The 25 year old has enjoyed a lot of success this season, netting 41 goals in 42 appearances the French club across all the competitions they are participating in. he has been disappointing in terms of assists, only assisting on 9 occasions. If you are big fan of video games, you may have seen him being awarded the golden ball on Fifa's video games and EA FC. hate him or love him, he looks like the natural successor for the golden ball. All he needs is to make history with PSG this season and win their first UEFA Champions League before going off to the continent to win the Euros.