In the much-anticipated upcoming Ballon d’Or ceremony, Lionel Messi is poised to clinch his eighth prestigious title, solidifying his incredible career. This year’s event, to be held in Paris on Monday, is expected to also honor Spain’s rising star, Aitana Bonmati, who is highly anticipated to seize the women’s prize.
Over the last 15 years, the Ballon d’Or has predominantly been claimed by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with the pair accumulating 12 wins between them. Luka Modric (2018) and Karim Benzema (2022) were the only other players to break this Messi-Ronaldo dominance.
Recent changes in the award criteria now focus on a player’s performance within a specific season rather than the entire calendar year. Messi’s standout performance in leading Argentina to victory at the World Cup in Qatar, scoring seven goals and earning the tournament’s best player title, stands as the highlight of his remarkable career, potentially edging out competition among the 30 nominees.
Erling Haaland, a pivotal player in Manchester City’s triumphant season winning the English Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League, is a strong contender. Guardiola voiced his support for Haaland, acknowledging his exceptional goal-scoring prowess. Still, he recognized Messi’s consistency, even in what could be considered a comparatively weaker season for the Argentine icon.
Despite Messi’s underwhelming club season at Paris Saint-Germain, where he tallied 21 goals, Kylian Mbappe emerges as a potential contender. Mbappe’s standout performances for PSG, as well as his stellar contribution as the top scorer in the World Cup, has rallied strong support from the French contingent for his recognition in the Ballon d’Or.
The voting process, consisting of one journalist from each of FIFA’s top 100 nations, will ultimately decide the winner, adding an element of unpredictability to the outcome.
On the women’s front, the favoritism leans heavily towards Aitana Bonmati. Her standout displays both for Barcelona in their Champions League triumph and her performance in Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory make her an almost certain victor, despite the credible challenges posed by top performers like Hinata Miyazawa and Sam Kerr. The presence of four Spain team members on the nominee list further emphasizes the country’s dominance in women’s football. Bonmati’s exceptional talent has drawn comparisons to Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta, solidifying her status as the one to beat in the race for the women’s Ballon d’Or.
