The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place in Paris tonight and it's already been guaranteed that a new player will be crowned the world's best. Lionel Messi won the award for a record extending eighth time last year, but this time around, the Argentinian icon is not one of the 30 nominees.
There is plenty of Premier League interest though, with Manchester City's Rodri one of the favourites to take the main honour at the Theatre du Chatelet. Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jnr and Jude Bellingham are also amongst the frontrunners.
The female prize, the Ballon d’Or Feminin, was won by Spain and Barcelona forward Aitana Bonmati last year and she is expected to prevail again. Two new awards are also being introduced tonight, Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year, while the Yashin and Kopa trophy winners, and the men's and women's clubs of the year, will also be confirmed.
Follow our live coverage of the Ballon d’Or ceremony below....
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Cole Palmer's placing confirmed
Cole Palmer has been confirmed in 25th place. Surprisingly far back?
Premier League defenders William Saliba (24th) and Ruben Dias (23rd) are the next two names out.
Ranked at the 25th place for the 2024 Men's Ballon d'Or!
\u2014 Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
Cole Palmer @ChelseaFC @England #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/LpDBRVecFe
Declan Rice finishes 26th
Three more reveals are in. Alejandro Grimaldo has been named in 28th place, Vitinha 27th, and Declan Rice is the first Premier League player to be ranked in 26th!
Ballon d'Or reveal underway
So the first two names of the 30 contenders have been announced. Equally ranked in 29th place are Artem Dovbyk and Mats Hummels.
Equally ranked at the 29th place for the 2024 Men's Ballon d'Or!
\u2014 Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
Artem Dovbyk @officialasroma @uafukraine @matshummels @officialasroma @DFB_Team#ballondor pic.twitter.com/2nDyMFih25
When does the ceremony take place?
The Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled to start at 7pm UK time tonight at the Theatre du Chatelet. However, it will be about 7.45pm when we start rolling with the award presentations.
Ballon d'Or nominations
The last Premier League player to win the award? Michael Owen in 2001, but that was before it merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year Award six years later. Plenty of interest from England's top flight tonight though.
Ballon d'Or nominations: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid); Hakan Çalhanoglu (Inter); Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid); Ruben Dias (Manchester City); Artem Dovbyk (Dnipro / Girona / Roma); Phil Foden (Manchester City); Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen); Erling Haaland (Manchester City); Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund); Harry Kane (Bayern Munich); Toni Kroos (Real Madrid); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta); Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa); Lautaro Martínez (Inter); Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid); Martin Odegaard (Arsenal); Dani Olmo (Leipzig / Barcelona); Cole Palmer (Manchester City / Chelsea); Declan Rice (Arsenal); Rodri (Manchester City); Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid); Bukayo Saka (Arsenal); William Saliba (Arsenal); Federico Valverde (Real Madrid); Vinícius Junior (Real Madrid); Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain); Nico Williams (Athletic Club); Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen); Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen); Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).
Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid 'boycott Ballon d'Or ceremony'
Vinicius Junior, one of the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or tonight, reportedly won't travel to France after learning he's not in-line to win the award.
According to RMC Sport, Real Madrid executives are 'furious' and have decided against attending tonight's party. Instead, the club's delegation are set to stay in Spain alongside other Los Blancos stars Jude Bellingham. Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos (now retired), Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and Federico Valverde.
Welcome!
It's the most prestigious inidividual award in football, and it will be announced tonight. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner will be crowned at a star-studded bash in Paris.
And prior to the ceremony even starting we have some huge breaking news to bring you.....
