France Football reveals nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or with new voting criteria

On Wednesday, France Football unveiled the much-anticipated list of 30 players nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or. The winner, who will succeed Lionel Messi, will be announced on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. This year’s process introduces several key changes, aimed at refining how the prestigious award is decided.

The Nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or

Among the 30 nominees are standout players like Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), and Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), alongside rising stars such as Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and Cole Palmer (Chelsea).

Players from various top European clubs have made the cut, including names like Ruben Dias, Vinicius Jr., and Lautaro Martinez. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are also in the spotlight, representing the Premier League.

The diversity in this year’s list reflects both established veterans and young talents competing for the most coveted individual honor in football.

Ballon d’Or Now based on Football Season

One of the most significant changes this year is that the Ballon d’Or will no longer be awarded based on a calendar year. Instead, it will now follow the traditional football season, from August to July.

This adjustment is meant to align the award with players’ performances over an entire season, including major tournaments like the 2022 World Cup, which will count toward the 2022-2023 season.

New selection process for Nominees

In another shift, the list of nominees will no longer be curated solely by journalists from France Football and L’Équipe. Didier Drogba, the Ballon d’Or ambassador, will now play a role in selecting nominees for the Ballon d’Or, along with voters whose previous predictions were the most accurate. This change is designed to bring more diversity and expertise into the nomination process.

Reduced Number of Voting Countries

Previously, representatives from 176 countries around the world participated in the voting process.

Starting this year, only voters from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings will be eligible to vote for the men’s Ballon d’Or, and the top 50 countries for the women’s Ballon d’Or.

France Football has emphasized that this measure aims to ensure that the jury consists of “true experts” with in-depth knowledge of the game, while also reducing the influence of less informed voters.

Focus on Individual Performance

A major change in the criteria for the Ballon d’Or is the emphasis on individual performance. France Football has removed the contentious “career achievement” factor, which previously influenced voting outcomes.

Now, the award will primarily focus on a player’s individual performance during the season, including decisive moments and overall impact.

Team accomplishments will be secondary, while fair play and player conduct will also be taken into consideration.

These new rules are expected to bring more clarity and fairness to the process, ensuring that the Ballon d’Or continues to honor the most deserving player based on their contributions throughout the football season.