Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the award five times, also failed to receive a nomination last year, while Lionel Messi, who won for a record 8th time in 2023 and has been nominated 16 times, lost out despite Argentina winning the this year's Copa America, held in the United States.

Euro 2024 winners Spain have 6 candidates, including 17-year-old Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, along with Nico Williams, Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodri and Dani Carvajal who also won the Champions League with Real Madrid.

Real have a total of 7 footballers in the pipeline, including Kylian Mbappe who recently joined their force from Paris Saint-Germain. There are still the Englishman Bellingham from the Queen of Europe and of course the Brazilian winger, Vinicius Junior among the other candidates of the Spanish club, who are among the favorites...

The England national team, second behind Spain's counterpart at Euro 2024, has 5 other candidates besides Bellingham: Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden.

To women

Of course, we must not forget that there is (and rightfully so) a prize for women, the Ballon d'Or. Champions League winners Barcelona have 6 candidates in total, including last year's winner Aitana Bonmati and two-time winner Alexia Putellas.

Finally, this year the administration of the authoritative and prestigious French sports magazine France Football will collaborate (for the first time) with UEFA....