This year celebrates the 68th edition of the Ballon d’Or, one of football’s most prestigious individual awards. Recognizing excellence in both the men’s and women’s game, the Ballon d’Or is considered the pinnacle of individual achievement in the sport. While multiple categories are awarded, all eyes are on who will succeed 2023 winner Lionel Messi in the men’s category and whether Aitana Bonmatí will retain her title as the top player in the women’s division.
What is Ballon d’Or
The Ballon d’Or, awarded by France Football since 1956, honors the best footballer of the season. Founded by Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran, it originally recognized only European players. Expanded in 1995 to include players globally active in Europe, it became a worldwide award in 2007, with eligibility eventually limited to journalist voting again in 2016.
When is the Ballon d’Or 2024 going to held?
The event is scheduled for Monday, October 28 at 19:45 GMT (1:15 AM IST) at the Paris Theatre du Chatelet.
Who are the nominees for the Ballon d’Or awards?
Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, and forwards Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer are the six England players nominated in the men’s division.
Additionally nominated are William Saliba, Emiliano Martinez, Martin Odegaard, and Ruben Dias, all of whom play in England.
Three members of the English team, Lauren James, Lucy Bronze, and Lauren Hemp, are competing in the women’s division.
There are six more Women’s Super League nominations, including Mariona Caldentey of Arsenal, Yui Hasegawa and Khadija Shaw of Manchester City, and Chelsea’s Sjoeke Nusken and Mayra Ramirez.
Where to watch the live streaming of the Ballon d’Or?
The event is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 28, at 1:15 AM IST. Fans can catch the live stream on L’Equipe’s YouTube channel.
Ballon d’Or winners list over the years
1956: Stanley Matthews — Blackpool and England
1957: Alfredo Di Stafano — Real Madrid and Spain
1958: Raymond Kopa — Real Madrid and France
1959: Alfredo Di Stefano (2) — Real Madrid and Spain
1960: Luis Suarez — Barcelona and Spain
1961: Omar Sivori — Juventus and Italy
1962: Josef Masopust — Dukla Prague and Czechoslovakia
1963: Lev Yashin — Dynamo Moscow and USSR
1964: Denis Law — Manchester United and Scotland
1965: Eusebio — Benfica and Portugal
1966: Bobby Charlton — Manchester United and England
1967: Florian Albert — Ferencvaros and Hungary
1968: George Best — Manchester United and Northern Ireland
1969: Gianni Rivera — AC Milan and Italy
1970: Gerd Muller — Bayern Munich and Germany
1971: Johan Cruyff — Ajax and Netherlands
1972: Franz Beckenbauer — Bayern Munich and West Germany
1973: Johan Cruyff (2) — Barcelona and Netherlands
1974: Johan Cruyff (3) — Barcelona and Netherlands
1975: Oleg Blokhin — Dynamo Kyiv and USSR
1976: Franz Beckenbauer (2) — Bayern Munich and West Germany
1977: Allan Simonsen — Borussia Monchengladbach and Denmark
1978: Kevin Keegan — Hamburg and England
1979: Kevin Keegan (2) — Hamburg and England
1980: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge — Bayern Munich and West Germany
1981: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (2) — Bayern Munich and West Germany
1982: Paolo Rossi — Juventus and Italy
1983: Michel Platini — France and Juventus
1984: Michel Platini (2) — France and Juventus
1985: Michel Platini (3) — France and Juventus
1986: Igor Belanov — Dynamo Kyiv and USSR
1987: Ruud Gullit — AC Milan and Netherlands
1988: Marco van Basten — AC Milan and Netherlands
1989: Marco van Basten (2) — AC Milan and Netherlands
1990: Lothar Matthaus — Inter Milan and Germany
1991: Jean-Pierre Papin — Marseille and France
1992: Marco van Basten (3) — AC Milan and Netherlands
1993: Roberto Baggio — Juventus and Italy
1994: Hristo Stoichkov — Barcelona and Bulgaria
1995: George Weah — AC Milan and Liberia
1996: Matthias Sammer — Borussia Dortmund and Germany
1997: Ronaldo — Inter Milan and Brazil
1998: Zinedine Zidane — Juventus and France
1999: Rivaldo — Barcelona and Brazil
2000: Luis Figo — Real Madrid and Portugal
2001: Michael Owen — Liverpool and England
2002: Ronaldo (2) — Real Madrid and Brazil
2003: Pavel Nedved — Juventus and Czech Republic
2004: Andriy Shevchenko — AC Milan and Ukraine
2005: Ronaldinho — Barcelona and Brazil
2006: Fabio Cannavaro — Real Madrid and Italy
2007: Kaka — AC Milan and Brazil
2008: Cristiano Ronaldo — Manchester United and Portugal
2009: Lionel Messi — Barcelona and Argentina
2010: Lionel Messi (2) — Barcelona and Argentina
2011: Lionel Messi (3) — Barcelona and Argentina
2012: Lionel Messi (4) — Barcelona and Argentina
2013: Cristiano Ronaldo (2) — Real Madrid and Portugal
2014: Cristiano Ronaldo (3) — Real Madrid and Portugal
2015: Lionel Messi (5) — Barcelona and Argentina
2016: Cristiano Ronaldo (4) — Real Madrid and Portugal
2017: Cristiano Ronaldo (5) — Real Madrid and Portugal
2018: Luka Modric — Real Madrid and Croatia
2019: Lionel Messi (6) — Barcelona and Argentina
2020: Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021: Lionel Messi (7) — Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina
2022: Karim Benzema — Real Madrid and France
2023: Lionel Messi (8) — Inter Miami and Argentina
2024: TBD, Oct. 28
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