Ballon d'Or: Surprises and Clear Favorites

Since 1956, the French magazine "France Football" has been awarding the best football player in the world, and this year, the nominees for the prestigious Ballon d'Or have once again been announced. A multitude of renowned names adorn the list of 30 nominated players, who will be carefully assessed by a group of journalists before the winner is crowned on October 28. One of the biggest surprises in this year's nominations is the absence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – a first since 2003. This raises the question of who will hold the coveted trophy in their absence. Discussions are already circulating about who was fortunate or unfortunate to make the list. Some surprising names have made it onto the list. Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final and led Nigeria to the Africa Cup final, was not consistently impressive throughout the season. Similarly, Vitinha is under criticism: though talented, he notably stood out due to Portugal’s disappointing performance at Euro 2024. Among the fortunate is also Emi Martinez. Despite good performances in the Copa America and for Aston Villa, some experts doubt whether his season justifies a nomination. The absence of Serhou Guirrassy also raises questions, especially since he has an impressive goal-scoring record that even led to a move to Borussia Dortmund. On the other hand, the non-selection of Jamal Musiala remains a significant question mark, particularly given the representation of Bayer Leverkusen players. There is also debate over why Mats Hummels was nominated while Virgil van Dijk, who had a strong last season, is missing. A look at the potential winners brings one name to the forefront: Rodri. The Manchester City midfielder has had an impressive season and could finally bring the much-needed recognition for players in more defensive roles. Vinicius Jr and Dani Carvajal are also mentioned as favorites, although Rodri is likely to take the lead. The controversy and discussions surrounding the nominations again prove that while the Ballon d'Or is an award for individual performances, it ultimately remains subject to subjective evaluations. However, what is clear is that the football world is eagerly awaiting the announcement of the winner.