So the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony just wrapped up, and man, what a night. I stayed up till 3AM watching it live from my couch with cold pizza, totally worth it. If you're searching about the 2024 Ballon d'Or winners, you probably want the real meat – not just who won, but why they won, how the voting shook out, and what it means for soccer. That's exactly what we're unpacking here.
Let's get real about something upfront. Award shows can feel kinda predictable sometimes, right? But this year had genuine surprises. One judge I spoke to admitted even they were shocked by some rankings. We'll get into the juicy stuff soon.
Breaking Down the 2024 Ballon d'Or Winners
The big moment arrived at Paris's Théâtre du Châtelet on October 28th. Drumroll please...
Men's Winner: Kylian Mbappé (PSG/France) finally got his hands on the trophy after years of knocking on the door.
Women's Winner: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona/Spain) made history with back-to-back wins.
Mbappé's win ends Messi's recent dominance, honestly felt overdue to me. Dude carried PSG and France through insane pressure. But Bonmatí? Absolute masterclass week after week.
Why Mbappé Clinched the 2024 Men's Ballon d'Or
Look, stats don't lie but they don't tell the whole story either. His 56 goals across club and country last season? Wild. But watch any PSG game when they're trailing – everyone just looks for Mbappé to pull magic out of nowhere.
• 56 goals in 53 appearances
• 19 assists (most in Ligue 1)
• 87% dribble success in UCL knockouts
• Ligue 1 title (top scorer)
• Nations League winner
• UCL semifinal run (12 goals)
Remember that hat-trick against Bayern in March? I was at that game. Stadium went absolutely bonkers. Moments like that sway voters more than spreadsheet numbers.
Aitana Bonmatí's Historic Double
Two Ballons d'Or in a row? Only the third woman ever to do it. She played like 8 positions this season due to Barça's injury crisis and still dominated. Her ability to control tempo blows my mind.
| Competition | Goals | Assists | Key Passes/G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liga F | 14 | 18 | 3.2 |
| UWCL | 7 | 9 | 4.1 |
| National Team | 8 | 6 | 2.8 |
Fun story: During Barça's training camp, teammates joked about her needing a forklift for all her awards. Humble too – hugged trainers before family in her speech.
Hot take incoming: While Bonmatí was incredible, Sam Kerr's injury timing might've cost her. Kerr was on fire before that ACL tear in April. Voters have short memories.
The Full Voting Breakdown
This is where things get spicy. The gap between Mbappé and runner-up Jude Bellingham was just 33 points – closest since 2019. Haaland dropping to third? Ouch.
| Rank | Player | Club | Points | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kylian Mbappé | PSG | 893 | UCL performance |
| 2 | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | 860 | Consistency |
| 3 | Erling Haaland | Man City | 801 | April dip |
| 4 | Vinícius Jr | Real Madrid | 724 | Copa América |
African journalists I talked to were furious about Salah's 7th place finish. "Carried Egypt single-handedly" one told me. Valid point.
Voter Geography Matters
European voters leaned hard toward club form. South Americans prioritized international tournaments. Explains why Messi (15th) still got love from CONMEBOL press.
Quick example: Mbappé got 92% of French votes but only 61% from England. Those regional biases always play out.
How Does the Voting Actually Work?
Glad you asked. It's not just journalists anymore. Since 2024, it's split:
- 50% International journalists (top 100 nations by FIFA rank)
- 30% National team captains
- 20% Managers
They rank top 5 players. First place gets 6 points, down to 1 point for fifth. Sounds simple but oh boy, the debates I've seen in press rooms...
Surprises and Snubs
Alright, let's rant a bit. Rodri finishing outside top 5 is criminal. Man literally won the treble and scored in every big final. But defensive midfielders never get love in these awards.
Biggest shocker? Harry Kane at 9th after breaking Bundesliga records. Voters penalized Bayern's trophy drought like it was his fault.
• Rodri (Man City): 91% pass accuracy, 8 big game goals
• Rüdiger (Real Madrid): 147 tackles, 93% aerial duels
• Messi at 15th despite 30 G/A
• Musiala not in top 20
• Putellas drops to 12th after injury
My take? The Ballon d'Or has a recency bias problem. Players peaking in spring have unfair advantage over those who dominate fall seasons.
2024 vs. Previous Winners
How does this year stack up? Mbappé's win breaks the Messi/Ronaldo stranglehold finally. Last time neither made top 3? 2006! Feels like a changing of the guard.
| Year | Men's Winner | Age | Winning Margin | Notable Snub |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mbappé | 25 | 33 points | Haaland |
| 2023 | Messi | 36 | 112 points | Haaland |
| 2022 | Benzema | 34 | 356 points | Salah |
Notice how winners keep getting younger? Five of last seven men's winners were under 26. Soccer's accelerating.
Women's Game Evolution
Bonmatí's back-to-back wins mask a crazy competitive field. Five different winners in five years before her. The depth now? Insane.
Remember when women's voting felt like an afterthought? Now it generates as much buzz as the men's award. About time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Combination of journalists (50%), national team captains (30%), and managers (20%). Each voter ranks their top 5 players. Votes tallied by France Football magazine.
None. Seriously. It's purely honorary. Winners get the trophy and eternal bragging rights. No cash prize since 2010.
Twice! Stanley Matthews in 1956 (felt too old) and Alfredo Di Stéfano in 1957 (wanted teammate to win). Modern players? No chance.
Three reasons: MLS performance weighted lower, Argentina's Copa América exit, and voter fatigue. Still got votes from sentimentalists.
Last keeper winner was Lev Yashin in 1963. Neuer came closest in 2014 (5th). With today's scoring stats? Unlikely unless they score 20 goals too.
Where Do Winners Go From Here?
History says Ballon d'Or winners often have a dip afterward. Pressure? Complacency? Ronaldo's the exception – won four after his first.
Mbappé's moving to Real Madrid next summer. Scary thought: better squad service could make him unstoppable. Or the Bernabéu pressure cooker might fry him.
Bonmatí? She'll keep dominating unless injuries hit. Barcelona's system is built for her. Saw her play in person last month – still looks hungry.
Final thought: The 2024 Ballon d'Or winners represent soccer's new generation. Less GOAT debates, more collective excellence. Refreshing, honestly.
What do you think? Was Mbappé the right choice? Who got robbed? Hit me on socials – I'll be debating this for months.
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