3 Real Madrid players who could genuinely win the 2024 Ballon d’Or
By Kian Long
As things stand, there are three Real Madrid players who could genuinely win the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Real Madrid and Barcelona are tied with the most amount of Ballon d'Or wins, with both teams hosting 12 wins. That said, no club has had more players winning the Ballon d'Or while playing for them than Real Madrid (8 players).
With that in mind, this is an excellent opportunity for Real Madrid to further extend their dominance over their El Clasico rivals FC Barcelona. In truth, a lot of Real Madrid success has come as a result of team success, but it's also good to recognise the individual players, which is why the Ballon d'Or is a great platform.
That said, which 3 Real Madrid players could win the 2024 Ballon d'Or?
3 Real Madrid players who could genuinely win the 2024 Ballon d’Or
1. Vinicius Junior
Heading into the summer, Vinicius Junior was the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or. This is because he helped Real Madrid to a memorable treble-winning campaign, scoring himself in the UEFA Champions League final to secure victory for Real Madrid.
Certainly, a strong performance from Brazil in the Copa America would have solidified it for Vinicius Junior, but it wasn't to be. Domestically and in Europe, though, Vincius was spot-on and certainly the most likely Real Madrid player to lift the honour this year.
2. Jude Bellingham
It was Jude Bellingham's first season with Real Madrid but it was an exceptional one. The youngster who signed from Borussia Dortmund set the world on fire with his performances and made quite a name for himself by scoring late goals, particularly in important fixtures.
If the Ballon d'Or was picked through season, Bellingham would have been most likely. However, he tailed off slightly in 2024. To say he tailed off but still provided an assist in the Champions League final and scored two crucial goals for England at EURO 2024, he is certainly a worthy contender for the Ballon d'Or.
3. Dani Carvajal
If we're being completely honest, individual honours are not kind to defensive players. If they were, then Dani Carvajal would be a favourite to win the Ballon d'Or. That said, the ignorance towards defensive players must change soon and if anybody deserves the award, it's Dani Carvajal.
The Real Madrid full-back scored a goal in the Champions League final, was consistent in La Liga and won the EURO 2024 with Spain, including some key performances. Dani Carvajal is still playing at the height of the game, so he should definitely be included in the 2024 Ballon d'Or conversation.