The path to the 2024 Ballon d’Or for Kylian Mbappe is clearer than ever as his main competitors are facing setbacks.
Mbappe is poised to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Mbappe started the 2023/24 season with a dispute with the PSG management, leading to him being banned from training grounds. However, by the end of the season, the French star could leave the Parc des Princes with the most prestigious honors.
No longer any worthy opponents
“The defeat of Man City against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals opens up an opportunity for Mbappe in the race for this year’s most prestigious individual award. The Norwegian sharpshooter is almost the biggest rival to Mbappe in the Ballon d’Or race organized by France Football magazine this year.
In a voting year that includes EURO, performances at the international level also play a crucial role in the Ballon d’Or race. Mbappe’s French national team has a real chance.
Even the 1998-born sharpshooter doesn’t need to win, but just needs a stellar performance in the tournament in Germany this summer. What happened with Lionel Messi, who won the Ballon d’Or last year, shows how much impact a player’s performance with the national team can have on voting.
With Manchester City being eliminated from this season’s Champions League, Haaland has almost no chance to compete for the Ballon d’Or. Even if the Etihad-based team wins the Premier League in May, Haaland will find it difficult to compete with other contenders.
The form of the 23-year-old forward has declined, and the Norwegian national team is not participating in EURO 2024. After the Messi and Ronaldo era, Mbappe and Haaland are expected to create a new competition for the Ballon d’Or.
Last season, many believed Haaland deserved the Ballon d’Or rather than Messi. However, everything has changed this season. With Messi and Ronaldo having very few opportunities left, Mbappe emerges as the most promising candidate.”
The Champions League and the EURO are the benchmarks
Mbappe’s goal-scoring form this season hasn’t declined compared to the past. After 42 appearances across all club competitions, the PSG forward has scored 41 goals and provided 9 assists, with a ratio of 83 minutes per goal. That’s a statistic strong enough for Mbappe to compete for the Ballon d’Or on equal footing with any other star.
Of course, individuals who win the Champions League or EURO this season have a significant advantage in the Ballon d’Or 2024 voting. Mbappe’s PSG has reached the Champions League semi-finals. With Dortmund as their only opponent, the Ligue 1 club is favored to reach the final.
In EURO 2024, the French national team is always the top contender. Even if Mbappe doesn’t win either the EURO or the Champions League, or only wins one of the two, he still has a strong chance if he maintains his impressive individual performance.
Mbappe maintains impressive goal-scoring statistics this season
“Mbappe’s brace against Barcelona in this season’s Champions League quarter-final second leg exemplifies that. The biggest obstacle preventing Mbappe from winning the Ballon d’Or only arises if he fails to win either the EURO or the Champions League.
In that case, other contenders will have to be considered. Jude Bellingham or Vinicius could be serious contenders against Mbappe if Real Madrid wins the Champions League this season, and the national teams of both players have also made an impression.
Brazil has a real chance of winning the Copa America this summer, while the England national team is also a strong contender in the EURO. However, Bellingham or Vinicius do not have as impressive goal-scoring and assist statistics as Mbappe.
Harry Kane could also be a contender against Mbappe if he wins both the Champions League and the EURO. However, the fact that the English star lost the Bundesliga title and has not shone in the decisive stages of this season’s Champions League makes it difficult for him.
Overall, both Vinicius, Kane, or Bellingham are overshadowed by Mbappe in this year’s Ballon d’Or race. The opportunity for the French sharpshooter to conquer the most prestigious individual title has never been brighter.”