Will Jude Bellingham win Ballon d’Or after UEFA Euro 2024 final defeat?

Every year, France Football honours the best player in the world with the Ballon d'Or, the most coveted individual award in football. This event garners a lot of attention. The process is rarely simple and usually results in disputed decisions, but the victor's reputation is substantially improved, in part because the winner is selected by international journalists and experts. 

The recent dominance by two of the greatest players to ever grace a pitch adds even more respect to the trophy. In the fifteen years since 2008, when the two superstars won all but two of the awards, only two players other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have taken home the Ballon d'Or.

Given that Messi and Ronaldo play in lower-tier leagues outside of Europe, it is doubtful that they will win this year's award. However, the winner from 2024 will have an advantage in establishing themselves as among the finest of the next generation. Furthermore, the competition for this most recent prize is the most fiercely fought in recent memory due to the removal of the two insignia from the picture.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored late to help Spain win Euro 2024 at the cost of England in a thrilling contest in Berlin.  Real Madrid earned a record-extending Champions League victory in June, with Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham emerging as the leading prospects.

Jude Bellingham had a remarkable season with Real Madrid

Although Jude Bellingham, an England international, is still a rookie in the Spanish capital and has not yet fully established himself, he has accomplished more in that regard than any other player since Cristiano Ronaldo. In addition, he achieved something that Ronaldo was unable to: in his debut season at Real Madrid, he won the Champions League against his old team, Borussia Dortmund, no less. 

Bellingham's remarkable skill level in his former No. 6/No. 8 position made it appear absurd at the time, but with 23 goals and 13 assists for the season across all competitions, it has now been shown to be a brilliant move. Bellingham's injury-time overhead kick helped his country stay in the competition, which was another significant contribution to his performance at Euro 2024. In October, he would fall short of the record for the fewest days ever if he were to receive the prize.

Regarding individual awards, Bellingham was named to the Teams of the Season for both tournaments, as well as the La Liga Player of the Season and the Champions League Young Player of the Season. This summer, Toni Kroos, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe will not be competing for significant international titles.