Best Bookmakers to Bet on 2024 Ballon d’Or
What is the Ballon d’Or?
It is football’s top individual award, presented by France Football magazine since 1956. It honours the best player of the season, chosen through global voting by sports journalists. Initially, only European sportsmen were qualified, meaning legends like Pele and Diego Maradona never won. In 1995, any footballer playing for a European league became eligible, and by 2005, all remaining restrictions were lifted.
From 2010 to 2015, the award merged with FIFA to form the FIFA Ballon d’Or. In 2016, France Football resumed sole control and added several new titles. Two more prizes will debut in 2024.
Here’s the full list of nominations:
- Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
- Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
- Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21)
- Yashin Trophy (Best goalkeeper)
- Gerd Müller Trophy (Top scorer)
- Men’s Club of the Year Trophy
- Women’s Club of the Year Trophy
- Men’s Coach of the Year (New)
- Women’s Coach of the Year (New)
Ballon d’Or 2024 Betting: Winner Odds Comparison
Vinicius leads the odds for the award at major Irish bookmakers. You can see all the top contenders in our 2024 Golden Ball odds list.
| Player | Bet365 | Betfair | 888sport | 32Red |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinicius Junior | 1.40 | 1.44 | 1.40 | 1.44 |
| Rodri | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Jude Bellingham | 13.00 | 6.50 | 13.00 | 8.00 |
| Dani Carvajal | 26.00 | 9.00 | 26.00 | 26.00 |
| Lamine Yamal | 41.00 | 12.00 | 41.00 | 41.00 |
| Kylian Mbappe | 41.00 | 23.00 | 41.00 | 41.00 |
Vinicius Junior
The Real Madrid superstar is the bookmakers’ favourite for the 2024 Golden Ball. The Brazilian scored 21 goals across La Liga and the Champions League and played a crucial role in Madrid’s successes. His performance in the Champions League final, where he netted against Borussia Dortmund, capped off a remarkable year. With his growing influence on the pitch and ability to deliver in big moments, Vinicius is a strong contender for football’s top individual award.
Rodri
A strong favourite for the Ballon d’Or, thanks to his exceptional performances throughout the season. A key figure in Manchester City’s dominance, he helped them win their fourth consecutive Premier League title. In addition, Rodri was named Player of the Tournament after leading Spain to victory at Euro 2024.
Jude Bellingham
He has quickly become one of the top candidates for the Golden Ball, thanks to an impressive season with Real Madrid. Since joining the Spanish giants, Bellingham has been instrumental in their UEFA Champions League triumph, making key goals and assists. His performances earned him the title of La Liga’s Player of the Season for 2023/24. With 23 goals and 11 assists across the Champions League and La Liga, his impact on the pitch has been undeniable.
Dani Carvajal
Carvajal has emerged as a surprising yet deserving candidate for the Ballon d’Or. At 32, the Real Madrid veteran continues to add to his trophy collection. His decisive goal in the Champions League final emphasised his enduring qualities on the big stage. Carvajal’s influence didn’t stop there, as he also contributed to Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.
Lamine Yamal
At just 17, the Barcelona winger has already made a significant impact on both club and country. After playing an important role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, Yamal has earned his first nomination for a major individual award. He is also a candidate for the Kopa Trophy as one of the most talented young players.
Ballon d’Or 2024 Winner Prediction
Predicting the winner of the Golden Ball is no easy task given the level of competition this year. All Irish sportsbooks have Vinicius Junior as the clear favourite. His odds range from 1.30 to 1.44. However, his closest challenger, Rodri, is not far behind with odds of 2.75. The order of trophies is similar, with the Brazilian having won La Liga and the Champions League and the Spaniard the EPL, Club World Cup and Euro 2024. So the bookmakers have two real contenders.
How Does the Voting Take Place?
Starting in 2022, the award is voted for by 100 journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA ranking (top 50 for women’s football). France Football’s editorial team will compile a list of 30 nominees for the journalists. They will then choose five players and rank them from first to fifth. The leading competitor earns 6 points, while the runner-up gets 4. Third place secures 3 points, fourth receives 2, and fifth takes 1 point.
If two players have the same number of points, the winner is determined by the number of first places. There are also other tie-breakers and if none of these apply, a jury of France Football editors will decide the winner.
The Ballon d’Or Award
Despite what the name suggests, the Golden Ball is not actually made of gold. Instead, it is claimed to be bathed in gold on the outside and filled with a wax-like material on the inside. The base is made of pyrite while the frame is made of brass. The whole construction weighs around 7 kg, measures 23 cm in diameter and stands 31 cm tall. The estimated worth of the raw materials used to create the Ball is around €3,000.
How to Bet on the 2024 Ballon d’Or Winner?
When betting on this event, several key factors can help guide your decision. Here are a few points to consider:
- Team and Individual Success. Candidates with both team and individual triumphs, such as Vinicius and Rodri, often emerge as strong contenders. These achievements can include club and international trophies, personal milestones like goals or assists, and prestigious awards like the Golden Boot or Player of the Year.
- Career Achievements. Long-standing performances often matter. Rodri and Dani Carvajal, with multiple strong seasons, may be preferred over less-experienced players.
- Fair Play and Image. Footballers without disciplinary issues tend to be more favourably considered. For these reasons, the candidates need to be respectful on and off the pitch and have a good public image.
- Voting Criteria. The focus is on individual performance during the past European season rather than a calendar year. This means that there’s no point in looking at the results of the current season.
Top 3 Bookmakers to Bet on 2024 Ballon d’Or
Many platforms in Ireland provide odds on the Golden Ball winner. All of them agree that Vinicius Junior is the major favourite, with Rodri second. We have selected 3 platforms offering the best betting service for this event.
The bookie provides odds of 1.44 on Vinicius to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or, one of the highest in Ireland. However, third-placed Jude Bellingham has quotes at around 8.00, which is lower than on many other sportsbooks. Nevertheless, the rest of the competitors are competitively priced, as you would expect from a top platform.
- Outrights for TV & Novelty, Politics
- Multiple payment methods supported
- Min deposit /withdrawal amounts: £10
This site has a handy special betting section where you can bet on the Golden Ball, among other player awards. Bet365 is also a good choice if you want to back one of the two favourites, with odds of 1.40 and 2.75. Prices on the other participants are also high, ranging from 13.00 to 501.00.
- Many football promotions
- Multiple outrights markets
- All types of Cash Out
There is also a good balance between Vinicius Junior and Rodri to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or, with odds of 1.44 and 2.75 respectively. However, the quotes on some of the other contenders are surprisingly low, with Bellingham at 6.50 and Carvajal at 9.00. Furthermore, Betfair Ireland suggests betting on Messi, even though he is not even a nominee.
- Betting exchange and fixed odds sportsbook
- Over 2700 outcomes for top-tier football in the sportsbookHuge
- Specials and Outrights sections
Full List of 2024 Ballon d’Or Nominees
The full list was unveiled by France Football on September 4. The ceremony will be held on October 28, 2024, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. It will be the first time without Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the nominee list since 2003.
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid |
| Hakan Calhanoglu | Inter |
| Dani Carvajal | Real Madrid |
| Ruben Dias | Manchester City |
| Artem Dovbyk | Dnipro / Girona / Roma |
| Phil Foden | Manchester City |
| Alejandro Grimaldo | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City |
| Mats Hummels | Borussia Dortmund |
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich |
| Toni Kroos | Real Madrid |
| Ademola Lookman | Atalanta |
| Emiliano Martinez | Aston Villa |
| Lautaro Martinez | Inter |
| Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain / Real Madrid |
| Martin Odegaard | Arsenal |
| Dani Olmo | Leipzig / Barcelona |
| Cole Palmer | Manchester City / Chelsea |
| Declan Rice | Arsenal |
| Rodri | Manchester City |
| Antonio Rudiger | Real Madrid |
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal |
| William Saliba | Arsenal |
| Federico Valverde | Real Madrid |
| Vinícius Junior | Real Madrid |
| Vitinha | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Nico Williams | Athletic Club |
| Florian Wirtz | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Granit Xhaka | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
Ballon d’Or Winners
As the award was initially only given to European players or those who played for European clubs, many famous South Americans do not have any victories to their name. However, there are plenty of modern legends on the list, with Lionel Messi leading the way with a total of eight wins.
| Player | Number of Awards | Year of Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 8 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 | 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Johan Cruyff | 3 | 1971, 1973, 1974 |
| Michel Platini | 3 | 1983, 1984, 1985 |
| Marco van Basten | 3 | 1988, 1989, 1992 |
| Alfredo Di Stefano | 2 | 1957, 1959 |
| Franz Beckenbauer | 2 | 1972, 1976 |
| Kevin Keegan | 2 | 1978, 1979 |
| Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | 2 | 1980, 1981 |
| Ronaldo Nazario | 2 | 1997, 2002 |
