Rodri has become a hot favourite, having helped Manchester City win a fourth consecutive Premier League title and helped Spain win the European Championship.

His Im City teammate Erling Haaland is also in contention, and Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham are expected to be prominent after the La Liga-Champions League double.

Mina Rzouki, journalist and European football presenter: “Why are you going to give it to Rodri?

“I understand that I’m saying that I’m not having a great season and that I’m not making a difference for Manchester City. But I’m not a standout player for Spain.

“Vinicius Jr can make a difference for every important match in the Champions League, so you probably assume you go for the former. It’s the difference between winning and losing.

“Rodri is just part of a great team. Rodri deserves it last year because it’s the difference between winning and losing, and I’m not happy because he didn’t get it or even didn’t get it approach.

“This year I’m going to take a difference maker and it’s Vinicius or my Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham. My choice is Vinicius.”

French football journalist Julien Laurens: “Kylian Mbappe is the best player in the world but I will give the Ballon d’Or to Rodri.

“Rodri is important to my team just like Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham are important to my team. They are the big players who are.

“Rodri has been the best player in the world for two seasons now. I know he doesn’t say he’s in an attacking position – he doesn’t score goals, doesn’t do dribbles or tricks.

“But I am the smartest player in terms of importance in the world. They are super decisive and in recent years they have been exceptional for club and country. I deserve the Ballon d’Or more than anyone else.”

Kristof TERROR, Belgian football expert: “It’s the end of the All-Star era and now you have new stars who will never really play at the highest level. I’m leaning towards Vinicius Jr.”

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague: “Rodri is not doing everything he is supposed to do for the club and at international level.

“I play a role that is not usually rewarded, but everyone recognizes my value.

“When Rodri gets injured at half-time in the Euro final, the feeling in the stands, among the experts, even among the players, is ‘what a void to fill’. We tell you that everyone knows that ‘he must be the player. They are the ones who dictate the game. Everyone admires my leadership too.

“It’s a great opportunity to reward an unsung hero. They are in the top three, but they probably won’t win because they most often favor players who look great on the ball and are constantly looking for the highlights of the spectacular. “

They are expanding three of the four winners since the Ballon d’Or to recognize the 2018 women’s footballers who are in the running again.

Bonmati (2023), her Spanish teammate Alexia Putellas (2021, 2022) and Norwegian Ada Hegerberg (2018).

Five of the United States’ Olympic gold medalists are also nominated: Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, Lindsey Horan, Sophia Smith and Alyssa Naeher.

Ballage: “Aitana Bonmati controls the game, scores goals, assists, personality. She is growing well with a team that takes women’s football to a new dimension.

“She meets the high standards that any midfielder should aspire to, but, as the Ballon d’Or is not just about football, she also represents the club and national team very well.

“She will be a reference for the children in the stands and the children at the match. She will be a great representative of football.”

Former England midfielder Fara Williams: “I’m going to Lindsey Horan for the top five, but my favorite will be Bonmati. And his IQ – his understanding of the game is up there with the best.

“She controls Barcelona’s midfield, not only does she control it, but she adds goals and helps her game. When you are a midfielder and you get those attributes, you are an exceptional player.”

Bay FC defender Jen Beattie: “I’m picking Trinity Rodman. She didn’t have an amazing season. What she did for the Olympics is amazing.

“She is a perfect combination of pace and technical ability. The speed she carries over the lead pack is incredible.

“She really deserves it. What she doesn’t do for the club and for the counter – that’s what’s going to put you in the mix for the Ballon d’Or. She doesn’t do everything at every level.”

Former England striker Ellen White: “Trinity Rodman could win in the morning, or Sophia Smith or Aitana Bonmati.

“But I want to salute Barbra Banda. She’s had an incredible Olympics, as well as back-to-back hat tricks. She’s the second-highest scorer in the NWSL with 13 goals in 20 games.”

There are 30 nominees in the men’s and women’s categories.

In the men’s category, six England players – captain Harry Kane, midfielders Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Declan Rice, as well as forwards Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer – were nominated.

England-based players Ruben Dias, Emiliano Martinez, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba are also nominated.

It’s the first time since 2003 that they haven’t named eight-time winner Messi and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

For the women’s category, the English trio Lauren James, Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hemp are in the running for the prize.

Six other nominees from the Women’s Super League with Chelsea duo Sjoeke Nusken and Mayra Ramirez, Manchester City’s Yui Hasegawa and Khadija Shaw and Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey nominated.

A jury made up of journalists from each of the top 100 countries in the FIFA men’s world rankings votes for the awards.

Each juror will select 10 players in descending order of merit from the list of nominees.

These 10 players receive 15, 12, 10, eight, seven, five, three, two and one point respectively.

The player with the most points received the Ballon d’Or.

A full list of rankings – from 30th to second – follow the winner announcement.

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr is the clear favorite to win the award for the first time.

The 24-year-old scored 24 times and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season as Madrid won the La Liga title and a record 15th Champions League.

The Brazilian scored in Madrid’s 2-0 win in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in June.

A factor that could count against Vinicius during his performance against Brazil. He has scored just twice in nine appearances for this year and was unable to stop Uruguay’s quarter-final exit to the Copa America.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri is Vinicius’ closest challenger.

Di bin dey, 28, was instrumental in City’s Premier League title win last season.

They are named players of the tournament as Spain beat England for the Euro 2024 final in June.

Vinicius Jr’s club teammate Jude Bellingham is also in contention after his first season with Real Madrid, where he scored 23 times in 42 appearances.

Last year’s winner, Bonmati, is the clear favorite to retain her crown.

The World Cup winner had a brilliant campaign for Barcelona, ​​helping her club to a fifth successive Liga F title last season.

Bonmati bin scores in Barcelona’s Champions League final victory over Lyon in May and names his player of the tournament.

At international level, she strengthened her case for the award by leading Spain to the UEFA Nations League title and scoring the opener in a 2–0 win over France in February .

The main challenger for the Bonmati crown is her Barcelona colleague Caroline Graham Hansen.

The Norwegian winger, who top-scored in Liga F with 21 goals and provided 19 assists, was named for the team of the tournament after Barcelona’s Champions League triumph.

Oda’s contenders include Kadidiatou Diani, after helping Lyon win the French league title, Barcelona forward and last year’s third place finisher Salma Paralluelo and Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson, after her four goals helped the United States win Olympic gold for Paris.

In addition to two main prizes, eight ODA prizes are up for grabs.

The Kopa Trophy, they award this prize to the best player under the age of 21.

They give the Yashin trophy for the best goalkeeper.

The Men’s Coach of the Year Award and the Women’s Coach of the Year Award are also club or national team leaders who can win this one.

The Club of the Year trophy is also for the women’s and men’s teams.

The Gerd Muller Trophy is awarded to the previous season’s top scorer, as well as a Socrates Prize for humanitarian work.