The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual award on which a footballer can lend their hands. Only some of the World's best football players have received this beautiful award. Argentinian sensation Lionel Messi has the most Ballon d'Or awards with 8, followed by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo's 5. They are the players with the most Ballon d'Or awards in history. But, time has changed and so have the game and the players. Many young players have made their way into the biggest stages and will get the opportunity to fight for this award in the upcoming years.

In this article, we'll try to analyze who deserves the 2023/24 season Ballon d'Or award between Rodri, Carvajal, Bellingham, and Vinicius. They all have won big titles and have played beautiful football throughout the season to come a long way here. So, let's get into it.

Read Also: 5 Youngest Ballon d'Or winners in football history

Ballon d'Or Rankings After Euro and Copa America 2024

4. Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid & Spain

Ballon d'Or Rankings: Dani Carvajal with the UEFA Euro trophy - sportzpoint.com — **Image: UEFA Euro 2024 Instagram**

It's very difficult to win the Ballon d'Or when you're a defender. Fabio Cannavaro was the last man to win it in 2006. Defenders always go under the radar in terms of winning these individual awards. They do not appear in the scoresheet all the time, and do all the dirty jobs to help the team. Dani Carvajal is fourth in this just because he is a defender but he isn't just any defender.

Carvajal wasn't really being spoken about a lot until he scored in Real Madrid's Champions League final triumph. But the people forget that he was there for the team when almost every defender was out with an injury. He played with his heart out for Los Blancos and lots of credit behind their success in the 2023/24 season should go to the Spanish left back.

Carvajal is a player whom every manager wants in their team. He does all types of things on the field but is still so underrated. Even for Spain, he was playing his peak football and took the red card in the quarter-final against Germany to save his side in an important situation. This kind of thing often goes unnoticed. He won every major title this season as one of the most crucial players and that's the reason that he deserves praise and a spot in this Ballon d'Or ranking.

3. Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid & Brazil

Vini Jr in action - sportzpoint.com — **Image: Getty**

Vinicius Junior's situation is the most difficult one at the moment. Before the Copa America, the only two real contenders for the Ballon d'Or were Vinicius and Bellingham but a lot has changed since the end of the season in Club football.

Vini scored a brace in the 4-1 group win over a disappointing Paraguay side but except that, he and Brazil have done nothing. They were so poor in the Copa America that they couldn't even with against a struggling Costa Rica side who are ranked 52nd in the FIFA rankings.

He had a sensational season with Real Madrid but it seems like, this will not be the year for Vinicus to stand at the podium to accept the prestigious Ballon d'Or trophy. The winger scored 15 goals and provided 5 assists in Real Madrid's La Liga winning season. He also scored six goals and assisted 5 times in the Champions League including a brace in the quarter-final first leg and the winner in the final. So, he did have a great club football season but a lot depends on the performance for the national team to win Ballon d'Or.

2. Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid & England

Ballon d'Or Rankings: Jude Bellingham after scoring against Serbia in the UEFA Euro 2024 - sportzpoint.com — **Image: Getty**

Moments are so important in the Ballon d'Or race and there is no one better in World Football to produce some unbelievable moments than England star boy Jude Bellingham at this moment. From scoring a magnificent long ranger in the El Classico to scoring from a bicycle kick in the last minute of the quarter-final to save his nation in the Euros, Bellingham has done everything.

Many would argue he has remained invisible most of the time on the field but some players just do things differently. He was undeniably the best player in the world for the first half of the 2023-24 campaign. Nobody was in touching distance. But, his consistency slowly faded with Real Madrid progressing toward lifting their record 15th Champions League title. Bellingham didn't step in the right moments but produced some amazing moments. We shouldn't forget he is still so young and this kind of thing happens with every athlete.

Jude Bellingham scored 19 goals and provided 6 assists in the 2023/24 La Liga season while scoring 4 times and assisting 5 times in the UCL. It was a brilliant season statistically for the 21-year-old but it didn't end well as England lost the Euro 2024. He still deserves to be in the second spot of the Ballon d'Or rankings.

1. Rodri | Manchester City & Spain

Ballon d'Or Rankings: Rodri celebrates after winning the UEFA Euro 2024 -sportzpoint.com — **Image: Getty**

Rodri has been sensational in the 2023/24 season. The Manchester City midfielder has been one of the crucial members of his club and country and has shown time and time again why he is the best defensive midfielder in the world at present.

Rodri's mentality, ball distribution, and defending are top-notch. He hardly has a bad day on the field and this shows how consistent of a player he is. Not only can he defend, but scores important goals too. He scored 8 goals and provided 9 assists for Man City this season in the 2023/24 Premier League season. 17 G/A contribution from a defensive midfielder is more than enough.

He won the Premier League once again with Manchester City and then lifted the UEFA Euro title with his nation Spain after facing and beating every big opponent. There should be no doubt among anyone that Rodri is the best player in the world right now and should be at the top of the Ballon d'Or rankings. He even won the UEFA Euro 2024 Best Player of the Tournament award to solidify his position.

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