Who are the favourites for the 2024 Ballon d'Or?

The year has barely begun, and yet the race for the 2024 Ballon d'Or is already on everyone's mind. Who will succeed Lionel Messi? Here's a look at the most serious contenders!

After a successful 2022/23 season on an individual level, but a disappointing one on a team level, Mohamed Salah has started 2023/24 with a bang. The Egyptian is the Premier League's most decisive player alongside Erling Haaland and could well have a chance of winning the Ballon d'Or this year.

Salah has got off to a good start in the Premier League with Liverpool and is an outsider at the African Cup of Nations with Egypt, but he has one big problem: he is playing in the Europa League with the Reds, not the Champions League. The Pharaoh could therefore have a hard time winning the Ballon d'Or.

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A Premier League contender with Arsenal, Bukayo Saka is the Gunners' star player. If Arteta's men go far in the Champions League and win the Premier League, Saka could well be one of the main favourites for the Ballon d'Or this year, especially if he performs well for England at the Euros.

It would be impossible to make a Ballon d'Or favourites list without KDB. The Belgian may have been injured at the start of the season, but he remains a perennial outsider for the trophy. If he enjoys a successful Euros with Belgium and wins another Champions League, he could be close to winning it.

It's hard not to talk about Lautaro Martinez's start to the season, as the Argentinian is simply brilliant with Inter. After reaching the Champions League final last year, Simone Inzaghi's men are once again aiming for European glory.

The only problem for Lautaro is his current situation in the Argentinian national team, where he is often sidelined and overtaken in his position by Julian Alvarez. Lautaro will need to perform well at the Copa America if he is to establish himself as a genuine outsider for the Ballon d'Or.

Quite simply, the metronome of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Rodri was excellent last year with the Sky Blues, and this year is no different. If the Spaniard continues his good form and has a good Euros with Spain, he could be one of the favourites to win the trophy.

Antoine Griezmann is back. The Frenchman became Atletico Madrid's all-time top scorer and is the leader of Los Colchoneros, who are looking increasingly promising this season.

While Griezmann has performed exceptionally well so far this season, his quest for the Ballon d'Or could be thwarted by Kylian Mbappé. Should France win the Euros, it could well be the PSG player who claims the prize.

It may come as a surprise, but Erling Haaland is only fourth on this list. The reason? The Norwegian machine will not be taking part in Euro 2024 in Germany. Despite his good start to the season, this international absence could prove costly for the Manchester City striker, who came in second in the 2023 Ballon d'Or.

In less than half a season, Harry Kane has already shown that he is Bayern Munich's go-to striker. The Englishman has been tearing up the pitch since the start of the season and could well break Lewandowski's league goalscoring record of 41 from 2020/21.

In addition to Bayern, Harry Kane will be leading the Three Lions at the Euros. If the English finally win it (which would be a first), the Ballon d'Or should be decided between the striker and his compatriot Jude Bellingham.

When it comes to the Ballon d'Or, Kylian Mbappé is always there. The Frenchman has been around for several seasons and could have won it last year if he had clinched the World Cup. Having got off to an excellent start this season, he will have to confirm his form at the Euros with France and, above all, with PSG in the Champions League.

At just 20, Jude Bellingham is already the leader of Real Madrid. The England midfielder is Los Merengues' man of the moment this season, and has every intention of leading his side to European glory.

If Real win the Champions League, there is no doubt that the young man will win the Ballon d'Or. However, if he wins the Euros, it will be between Bellingham himself and his compatriot and captain Harry Kane.