The moment of truth approaches for world football. This Monday, October 28, the prestigious Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris will host the 68th Ballon d’Or ceremony, the most coveted individual trophy in football. The evening will begin at 8:45 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the L’Équipe channel.
This year marks a historic turning pointsince neither Lionel Messi (8 trophies), title holder, nor Cristiano Ronaldo (5 trophies) are among the favorites. A new era is dawning for world football.
Vinicius Jr, Brazilian star of Real Madrid, is the big favorite. However, the competition promises to be fierce with his teammates Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. Manchester City players Erling Haaland and Rodri are also among the serious contenders.
The evening will not be limited to the men’s Ballon d’Or. Three other major trophies will be awarded :
- The women’s Ballon d’Or, where the defending champion Aitana Bonmati is among the 30 nominees
- The Yachine Trophy for the best goalkeeper
- The Kopa trophy rewarding the best player under the age of 21
For the third time in its history, the Ballon d’Or is awarded on the basis of a complete sporting seasonand no longer on the calendar year. The performances evaluated cover the period from August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024.
The selection process remains faithful to its tradition: journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings vote for their 10 favorite players. Each position in this top 10 earns a different number of points, and the player with the most points wins the trophy.
This ceremony promises to be particularly open and indecisive, potentially marking the start of a new era in the history of world football.