JUST IN: Arsenal have five players nominated for Ballon d’Or award has ONE of them has overtaken Vinicious to become the favourite to win the award
Jude Bellingham is one of six English players to be nominated for the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or award, with a 30-man shortlist unsurprisingly dominated by Spain’s European champions, double winners Real Madrid and the Premier League.
Bellingham, who came 18th in the final award ranking last year, has been selected off the back of his role in England’s run to the final of Euro 2024 this summer as well as Real’s Champions League and LaLiga success last season.
The 21-year-old midfielder is looking to become just the fourth Englishman ever to win the Ballon d’Or, and the first since Michael Owen in 2001. He is joined on the list by Three Lions team-mates Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
The latter four are among the 10 Premier League players to be nominated, alongside Manchester City’s Rodri, Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias, plus Arsenal‘s Martin Odegaard and William Saliba and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez. The Argentine will also be hoping to retain his Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper.
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2024 nominees
Rodri (Manchester City)
Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Vitinha (PSG)
Nico Williams (Athletic Club)
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
