A fresh power ranking list for the Ballon d’Or 2024 award contenders comes as a huge shock, with an unexpected inclusion.
The list, which was compiled by Sportskeeda features Lionel Messi, an eight-time recipient of the award.
Messi’s surprising inclusion in Ballon d’Or 2024 ranking
Messi, in his twilight years, having ‘completed football’, as many fans would say, is on the list of favourites to win the award once again, according to Sportskeeda’s list.
Many fans have argued that the Argentine ace is mostly favoured for personal accolades compared to his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won three fewer Ballon d’Or awards.
Messi’s 12 goals and 9 assists in just 12 appearances for Inter Miami are a solid return, though below his typical standards.
The 37-year-old attacker led Argentina to a second consecutive Copa America triumph, where he scored one goal and provided one assist in the tournament—another stat many would believe is not good enough to put him in the Ballon d’Or 2024 conversation.
Top 5 players on the list
On the list, Messi was placed as the fifth favourite contender for the award, behind fellow Argentine teammate Lautaro Martinez, who found his way into the top 5 Ballon d’Or ranking following his heroics at the Copa America, where he scored five, including the only goal in the final.
Coming at number three is Jude Bellingham, who has been in the conversation for quite a while now, after an impressive debut season with Real Madrid, winning the League and continental double.
Bellingham was named La Liga’s best player of the season for the 2023–2024 campaign.
Rodri, who recently became a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or 2024 award following his Euro 2024 success with Spain, comes in second on the list, while Vinicius Junior is ranked at number one, making him the frontrunner of the award.
This comes after an impressive season with Madrid, where the Brazilian scored 23 goals and provided 11 assists, including one in the Champions League final, helping Los Blancos to an unprecedented 15th UCL title.
A surprising exclusion on this list is Kylian Mbappe, who has always been in the conversation for the award, alongside Vinicius and Bellingham.
Dani Carvajal, who recently got a shout for the award, is also missing from this list
