Ballon d'Or contenders: In weak field, could Lionel Messi give MLS first-ever winner of top individual trophy?

The race to be crowned 2023-24 winner is well underway

By Jonathan Johnson Jul 17, 2024 at 5:05 pm ET• 7 min read

With UEFA Euro 2024 and this summer's Copa America joining the UEFA Champions League and the European domestic season in being over, attention now will naturally turn towards the 2023-24 Ballon d'Or award. With a league title, domestic cup success and a European triumph the ideal club level combination which can be allied with an international win at either major tournament, there is no obvious candidate to have won it all. Real Madrid representatives are arguably the closest thing to that perfect combination and even Los Blancos did not seal domestic cup success. Therefore, this next award could end up going to an unexpected candidate outside of the usual suspects.

We take a look at the contenders who look the most likely to be in the shakeup ahead of the announcement in October.