The Ballon d'Or, football's most coveted individual accolade, has always been shaped by a mixture of personal brilliance and the success of the teams a player leads. Historically, the award has often gone to those who have propelled their clubs or national sides to major trophies.
Last season, Ousmane Dembélé captured the prize after steering Paris Saint‑Germain to their inaugural Champions League triumph, underscoring how club triumphs can tip the scales. This year, however, the dynamics shifted dramatically because of the World Cup’s unrivalled global impact.
No domestic league or continental competition can match the tournament’s ability to sway public opinion and voting panels, as it pits the very best players against each other on the sport’s biggest stage. The 2024 World Cup produced a host of compelling narratives that have reshaped the conversation around who truly deserves the Ballon d'Or. One of the most talked‑about storylines involved England’s captain Harry Kane. At club level Kane enjoyed a record‑breaking season with Bayern Munich, netting 61 goals in 51 matches and helping the German giants secure a domestic double.
His goal‑scoring exploits sparked optimism among England supporters, who imagined a similar dominance on the international stage. Yet the World Cup proved a different arena. England’s campaign faltered earlier than many had predicted, and Kane’s personal performances dipped in the tournament’s final two games. While he still managed six goals, his impact was eclipsed by the rising star Jude Bellingham, whose dynamic play captured the imagination of fans and pundits alike.
The failure to lift England to the final – a stage that many consider the ultimate showcase for a Ballon d’Or hopeful – left Kane’s otherwise stellar year feeling incomplete. Nevertheless, his combined club and international tally of 73 goals places him among the most prolific scorers of the modern era, keeping him firmly in the conversation. Spain’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal offered another intriguing case. At just 19, Yamal became the first player to feature in both a European Championship final and a World Cup final before turning 20, a feat he achieved on Sunday when Spain clinched the World Cup.
Though his statistical contribution – a single goal – seemed modest compared to the pre‑tournament hype, his influence was far more subtle. Yamal’s penalty win against France in the semi‑final proved decisive, and his ability to break defensive lines with his dribbling was a constant nuisance for opponents. Over the tournament, he logged more successful take‑ons than even Lionel Messi, highlighting his technical superiority. Coupled with 28 goal involvements in Barcelona’s LaLiga triumph, Yamal’s résumé is rapidly expanding, and while he may not win the Ballon d’Or this year, his trajectory points toward future contention.
Lionel Messi, the record‑holder with seven Ballon d’Or titles, entered the World Cup as a 39‑year‑old veteran still capable of dazzling performances. Despite missing out on the Golden Boot to Kylian Mbappé – a result that raised eyebrows because two of Mbappé’s goals came in a dead‑rubber third‑place match – Messi’s contributions were nothing short of extraordinary. He opened the tournament with a hat‑trick against Algeria, then found the net in each of the next four games, cementing his status as the tournament’s most influential player.
His playmaking and leadership were pivotal in Argentina’s semi‑final victory over England, and his overall numbers reinforce the argument that an eighth Ballon d’Or is within reach. Historically, only four of the last nineteen Ballon d’Or winners have not secured a major international trophy in the same year, three of those being Messi himself, suggesting that his continued dominance may well be rewarded once more.
Kylian Mbappé, meanwhile, made history by becoming the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice, cementing his place as the competition’s all‑time leading scorer. Yet, as Mbappé himself admitted, personal accolades feel hollow without a winner’s medal: “I would have preferred not to be the top scorer and to have played in the final.” France’s loss in the final, coupled with Real Madrid’s trophy‑less season, means Mbappé’s chances of securing the Ballon d’Or this year are diminished despite his record‑breaking goal tally.
His individual brilliance is undeniable, and he will undoubtedly remain a perennial contender, but the lack of a major team trophy this cycle weakens his case. Perhaps the most surprising emergence is Rodri, the Spanish midfielder who entered the season as a peripheral figure but surged into the spotlight during the World Cup. After an ACL injury sidelined him for much of the club season, Rodri returned to form for both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.
In the tournament he completed 122 line‑breaking passes across eight matches – the highest total since Xabi Alonso’s 2010 campaign – and earned the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. His composure, vision, and ability to dictate tempo drew immediate comparisons with Spanish legends such as Xavi and Andrés Iniesta.
With a resume that now includes a World Cup, a European Championship, a Champions League title, and the Ballon d’Or, Rodri joins an elite group of players who have captured the sport’s four most prestigious honors. The 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for 26 October in London, and the shortlist is expected to feature a blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars.
While the official 2025 nominees have yet to be announced, names like Aitana Bonmati and Ousmane Dembélé have already been mentioned as potential female and male awardees, respectively. In summary, the World Cup has acted as a powerful equaliser, amplifying the achievements of those who excel on the grandest stage while exposing the limitations of players whose club form could not be translated into tournament success. Kane’s club heroics were tempered by England’s early exit; Messi’s ageless brilliance reinforced his legacy; Mbappé’s scoring feats were shadowed by France’s loss; Yamal’s youthful promise shone brightly; and Rodri’s resurgence turned him into a serious contender.
As the footballing world looks ahead to the Ballon d’Or ceremony, the tournament’s influence will remain a central theme, reminding us that individual greatness is often measured by the ability to deliver when the world is watching.