Messi and Ronaldo are missing, but: Mats Hummels and other Germans nominated for Ballon d’Or
05.09.2024, 07:06
Toni Kroos has never won the Golden Ball. After his retirement, he is at least one of the candidates. As are Mats Hummels and other German players. They have tough competition. Messi and Ronaldo are missing for the first time in living memory.
Toni Kroos can hope to win the Golden Ball after retiring from professional football. The former international player is on the nomination list for the Ballon d’Or, as are his former Real Madrid teammate Antonio Rüdiger, Florian Wirtz from double winner Bayer Leverkusen and ex-Dortmund player Mats Hummels. The 35-year-old had two reasons to be happy on Wednesday. First he signed in Rome, then his nomination became official. In the women’s category, German international players Lea Schüller, Giulia Gwinn and Sjoeke Nüsken made it onto the shortlist.
They are all among the 30 nominees for the prestigious award. The prize is awarded by the European umbrella organization UEFA and the French trade magazine “France FootballThe award for the best footballers in the world, presented by the “Best Footballer of the Year” award, will be presented on October 28 in Paris. Last year’s winner Lionel Messi, who triumphed with Argentina at the Copa América this year and has already won the Golden Ball eight times, was not considered, nor was the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo. For the first time since 2003, neither of the two superstars is up for election.
Will super coach Alonso win an award?
Kroos won the Champions League with Real Madrid this year and made a celebrated DFB comeback after a break of almost three years with the national team. After the quarter-final exit at the home European Championship, the 34-year-old retired as a professional footballer. Also nominated for the men’s team are Norway’s star striker Erling Haaland, Bayern Munich’s English striker Harry Kane and Rodri and Nico Williams from European champions Spain. Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka and Alejandro Grimaldo as well as former Leipzig player Adeoola Lookman, who inflicted Bayer’s only defeat of the season with his goals for Atalanta Bergamo in the Europa League final, are also on the list.
In the women’s competition, Schüller and Gwinn from FC Bayern Munich and Nüsken from FC Chelsea will have to prevail against, among others, last year’s winner Aitana Bonmati from FC Barcelona. Successful coach Xabi Alonso from double winner Bayer Leverkusen can have high hopes for the Coach of the Year award. He will be competing against, among others, Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola from English champions Manchester City and Spain’s European champion Luis de la Fuente.
Will BVB be the team of the year?
Mathys Tel from FC Bayern Munich could be chosen as the best young player. However, the big favorite in this ranking is Spain’s 17-year-old European champion Lamine Yamal from FC Barcelona. In the goalkeeper vote, Gregor Kobel from Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund is on the list with nine other keepers. Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Manchester City and FC Girona were considered in the shortlist for the team of the year in men’s football.
The Ballon d’Or has been awarded annually since 1956 by the specialist magazine “France Football”, which belongs to the French media group Groupe Amaury. Since this year, UEFA has been co-organising the prestigious award. The Ballon d’Or is not a replacement for the World Footballer of the Year award. This award continues to be organised by the world association FIFA. From 2010 to 2015, the World Footballer of the Year was awarded through a cooperation between FIFA and “France Football”.
