The Ballon d'Or 2024 power ranking makes for intriguing reading, with Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland the favourites for the gong.
Yes, we know that the 2023 award has only just been handed out – but at France Football, attention is turning to the next 12 months of football. The Champions League will likely have a big say in who gets the BDO, as will international tournaments next summer in the form of the Euros and Copa America.
So will Bellingham join Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen to become just the fifth England player to be granted a Golden Ball?
Ballon d'Or 2024 power rankinng: the bookies' odds for the award
All odds from Betfair
1. Jude Bellingham (10/3)
No Englishman has won this trophy since Michael Owen back at the turn of the century – but Jude Bellingham might just have the best shot to do so.
The Stourbridge schemer has been in electric form for Real Madrid, chipping in with stoppage time winners – including in the Clasico – while establishing himself as England's best player, too. With Los Blancos one of the favourites for the Champions League and England heading into the Euros as one of the strongest sides, it might be Jude's prize should the stars align.
2. Kylian Mbappe (7/2)
Third in the BDO to Messi and Haaland, watching on with a face like thunder, Kylian Mbappe is one of the names tipped for glory in 2024 – and it might all hinge on international success.
The Ballon d'Or is about a nice story as much as it is being the best player around. Just as Messi rose from defeat at previous World Cups to lift the trophy in 2022, Mbappe heads into Euro 2024 knowing that it was his missed penalty three years prior that sent his country home. Redemption is a strong drug to these voters: if France triumph, there'll likely only be one name in the running for this award.
3. Erling Haaland (5/1)
Second in the vote after a Treble-winning campaign, Erling Haaland was awarded the Gerd Muller Trophy – also known as the "Here, have this, sit down and be grateful" award that France Football palmed Robert Lewandowski off with after his own formidable campaign was seen as second to Messi.
With Messi now in the US and no World Cup to skew things for a Norwegian, surely next year's gong should go to Haaland? It'll depend on how Manchester City fare in Europe, of course: Norway won't be winning the Euros after failing to qualify.
4. Harry Kane (4/1)
It really would be quite something for Harry Kane to win the Ballon d'Or before he's won a major trophy – but if that first piece of silverware does arrive this season, who's to say he won't back it up with the ultimate individual accolade?
The England captain is arguably the best striker in Europe right now. That's a big tick in the voting. Should he sweep the Champions League with Bayern Munich and the Euros with the Three Lions, however, he will inarguably be leading the race for the award. Simple for a first one-two of trophies, right?
5. Lionel Messi (9/1)
"I don't know how much longer I'll be going… but I plan to enjoy it," Messi said upon picking up an eighth Golden Ball at the 2023 ceremony. Who'd put it past him lifting a ninth?
OK – so he's now in the MLS, but that doesn't exclude him totally, with a Copa America next summer to compete for. If Argentina win that, the Flea is back in contention for yet another award. For his past three BDOs, we've assumed it'll be Messi's last – maybe we'll be doing the same again in autumn 2024.
More Ballon d'Or stories
FFT editor James Andrew has argued why Erling Haaland should have won the 2023 award, while deputy editor Matthew Ketchell has laid out why Messi is more deserving.
Pep Guardiola has weighed in on the debate – meanwhile, these are the biggest robberies in Ballon d'Or history.
This is how the Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony unfolded as it happened.
