The Ballon d'Or which means "Golden Ball" in French, is one of the most sought-after awards in the world of football. It is an annual football award presented to the best male footballer in the world and is considered one of the most prestigious individual awards in football. This was the 67th Ballon d'Or award presentation. The Ballon d'Or 2024 ceremony took place on Monday, October 28, in Paris, France and Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

History of the Ballon d'Or

The Ballon d'Or was first awarded in 1956 by the French Football magazine ‘France Football’ and was originally open to European players only. The award was later expanded in 1995 to include players from all over the world. In 2010, the Ballon d'Or merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year award to create the FIFA Ballon d'Or. However, the two awards were separated again in 2016, and the Ballon d'Or returned to being awarded solely. FIFA reverted to its own separate annual award ‘The Best FIFA Men's Player.’

Impact of Ballon d'Or

The Ballon d'Or is not just an individual accolade; it represents the pinnacle of footballing excellence. Ballon d'Or winners often leave a lasting mark on their respective clubs and national teams. They become icons, inspiring generations of aspiring footballers to follow in their footsteps and reach for greatness. It also sparks debates among fans and pundits, with discussions about who truly is the best player in the world.

Ballon d'Or 2024

The 2024 Ballon d'Or award will be presented to the best player based on their performance in the football season from August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024. Earlier, it was given to the football player who excelled throughout a calendar year. 

Apart from the Ballon d'Or award, several other awards will be presented at the ceremony. 

• Ballon d'Or Feminin (winner - Aitana Bonmati) is given to the best female footballer.
• Kopa Trophy (winner - Lamine Yamal) is handed over to the best male player under 21.
• Yashin Trophy (winner - Emiliano Martinez) is given to the best men’s goalkeeper.
• Gerd Müller Trophy (winner - Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe with 52 goals) is awarded to the highest-scoring striker.
• Real Madrid were awarded the 2024 Men's Club of the Year Award. 
• Barcelona were awarded the 2024 Women's Club of the Year Award. 
• Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid) was awarded the 2024 Men's Coach of the Year Award. 
• Emma Hayes (Chelsea/USA) was awarded the 2024 Women's Coach of the Year Award.

30 players were nominated for this year's Ballon d'Or, and Rodri won his first Ballon d'Or. Rodri won the Premier League with Manchester City and Euro 2024 with Spain. Vinicius Jr. was second, with 24 goals in a double-winning season (La Liga and Champions League) for Real Madrid.

Previous Ballon d'Or Winner List: From Rordri, Messi to Ronaldo

Over the years, many great footballers have won the Ballon d'Or. The award has been dominated over the last 15 years by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have won it 12 times between them. Here are some of the most recent and notable winners of the Ballon d'Or trophy:

Also read: Who is the Best Football Player in the World

Most Ballon d'Or Winners

Argentina’s Lionel Messi has won a record eight Ballon d'Or trophies, while Cristiano Ronaldo has won the trophy five times. No other player has won the trophy more than three times.

Lionel Messi: The Argentine forward has won the Ballon d'Or a record eight times, including four consecutive wins from 2009 to 2012. Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time and has won numerous other individual awards throughout his career.

Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese forward has won the Ballon d'Or five times, including four wins from 2013 to 2017. Ronaldo is also considered one of the greatest footballers of all time and has won numerous other individual awards throughout his career.

Michel Platini: The French midfielder won the Ballon d'Or three times in a row from 1983 to 1985. Platini was a key player for the French national team and also had a successful club career with Juventus.

Johan Cruyff: The Dutch forward won the Ballon d'Or three times in a row from 1971 to 1973. Cruyff was a key player for both Ajax and Barcelona and is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Alfredo Di Stefano: The Argentine forward won the Ballon d'Or twice in 1957 and 1959. Di Stefano was a key player for Real Madrid during their dominant period in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Ballon d'Or is a prestigious individual award in football, and many great players have won it over the years. As football continues to evolve, we can expect to see more great players win this prestigious award in the future.

FAQ’s

Who won the Ballon d'Or 2024?

Rodri won the Ballon d'Or 2024 award. He scored 12 goals combined for club and country and won the 2024 Euro trophy for Spain and 2023-24 Premier League with Manchester City.

Who are the nominees for Ballon d'Or 2024?

Rodri, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Lautaro Martinez, Lamine Yamal, Toni Kroos, Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Florian Wirtz, Dani Olmo, Ademola Lookman, Nico Williams, Granit Xhaka, Federico Valverde, Emiliano Martínez, Martin Ødegaard, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Bukayo Saka, Antonio Rüdiger, Rúben Dias, William Saliba, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Vitinha, Alejandro Grimaldo, Mats Hummels, Artem Dovbyk. 

Who has more Ballon d'Or wins - Messi or Ronaldo?

Messi has won 8 Ballon d'Or awards and Ronaldo has won 5 Ballon d'Or trophies.