Ballon d’Or 2024 – Vinicius Battles Rodri, Bellingham For Award

Vinicius Junior stands as a firm favourite for the men’s award while Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati is tipped to win the women’s trophy.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has backed one of his own players to be the next recipient of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award – midfielder Rodri.

Guardiola insists that his compatriot is simply “the best”, and believes that the former Atletico Madrid man can succeed Lionel Messi as the world’s best men’s player.

“Rodri. If I could decide, I would say that,” He told us in an exclusive chat recently. “I understand that there are other players that can win it. I think the other way is being nominated and being there is already nice.”

WHAT OTHER AWARDS ARE UP FOR GRABS TONIGHT?

Yashin Trophy (for the best goalkeeper)
Diogo Costa (Portugal, Porto)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain)
Gregor Kobel (Switzerland, Borussia Dortmund)
Andriy Lunin (Ukraine, Real Madrid)
Mike Maignan (France, Milan)
Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia, Valencia)
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
Unai Simón (Spain, Athletic Club)
Yann Sommer (Switzerland, Inter)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Kopa Trophy (for the best player under the age of 21 as of 31 July 2024)
Pau Cubarsí (Spain, Barcelona)
Alejandro Garnacho (Argentina, Manchester United)
Arda Güler (Türkiye, Real Madrid)
Karim Konaté (Ivory Coast, Salzburg)
Kobbie Mainoo (England, Manchester United)
João Neves (Portugal, Benfica / Paris Saint-Germain)
Savinho (Brazil, Girona / Manchester City)
Mathys Tel (France, Bayern München)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Warren Zaïre-Emery (France, Paris Saint-Germain)

Men’s Coach of the Year Trophy (best coach of a men’s club or national team)
Xabi Alonso (Spain, Bayer Leverkusen)
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy, Real Madrid)
Luis de la Fuente (Spain, Spain)
Gian Piero Gasperini (Italy, Atalanta)
Pep Guardiola (Spain, Manchester City)
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina, Argentina)
Women’s Coach of the Year Trophy (best coach of a women’s club or national team)
Sonia Bompastor (France, Lyon / Chelsea)
Arthur Elias (Brazil, Corinthians / Brazil)
Jonatan Giráldez (Spain, Barcelona / Washington Spirit)
Emma Hayes (England, Chelsea / USA)
Filipa Patão (Portugal, Benfica)
Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands, England)
Men’s Club of the Year Trophy
Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Girona (Spain)
Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Manchester City (England)
Real Madrid (Spain)

Glodis Viggosdottir (Bayern Munich and Iceland)
Mariona Caldentey (Barca/Arsenal and Spain)
Lauren James (Chelsea and England)
Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona and Spain)
Lea Schuller (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Gabi Portilho (Corinthians and Brazil)
Tabitha Chawinga (Paris Saint-Germain/Lyon and Malawi)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona and Norway)
Lindsey Horan (Lyon and USA)
Lucy Bronze (Barcelona/Chelsea and England)
Sjoeke Nusken (Chelsea and Germany).