Rodri is a strong favourite, having subsequently helped Manchester City to a fourth successive Premier League title and Spain to win the European Championship.

Im City teammate Erling Haaland also remains in contention and Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham are expected to step up after the La Liga-Champions League double.

European football journalist and broadcaster Mina Rzouki: “Why do you go and give Rodri my watch?

“I understand that we cannot have a great season and be a difference-maker for Manchester City, but we will not be a stand-out player for Spain.

“Vinicius Jr. makes the difference in every important match in the Champions League, so you should definitely act in the morning. The difference between winning and losing is huge.

“Rodri is just part of a great team. Rodri deserves it last year because the difference between them winning and losing is huge and I’m not happy that I didn’t achieve that or even come close.

“This year I took someone who made a difference and chose Vinicius or his Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham. Vinicius was my choice.”

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 as Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham are important to the dia team. They have great players.”

“Rodri hasn’t been the best player in the world for two seasons now. I know they don’t allow any attacking chances; they don’t score goals, they don’t dribble or fake.

“But we are the smartest player in terms of their position in the world. They are super determined and have been outstanding for club and country over the last few years. They deserve the Ballon d’Or more than anyone.”

Belgian football expert Kristof Terreur: “It’s not the end of the star era and you’re getting new stars that we’re not really performing at the highest level anymore. I’m leaning towards Vinicius Jr.”

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague: “Rodri is not doing everything he should be doing at club and international level.

“I play a role, I don’t usually get credit, but everyone knows my value.

“When Rodri Bin gets injured in the first half of the Euro final, there is a feeling among pundits, even among players, of ‘what a gap to fill’. It says that everyone has to be a player. Everyone respects my leadership.”

“It’s not a great opportunity to give an award to an unsung hero. I’d be in the top three but probably not, as the pipe often favors players who look good on the ball and constantly want greatness to shine through.”

They brought three of the four winners since the Ballon d’Or into contention again by honoring female footballers in 2018.

Bonmati (2023), Spain teammate Alexia Putellas (2021, 2022) and Norway Ada Hegerberg (2018).

Five of the United States’ Olympic gold medal-winning squad were also nominated: Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, Lindsey Horan, Sophia Smith and Alyssa Naeher.

Balague: “Aitana Bonmati controls the game, goals, assists and personality. She is developing well with a team where we cannot take women’s football to a new dimension.

“He has the high standards that every midfielder aspires to, but he represents both the club and the national team very well as the Ballon d’Or is not just about football.

“He will be a reference for the kids in the stands and the kids in the game. He will be a great representative of football.”

Former England midfielder Fara Williams: “I like to see Lindsey Horan in the starting five, but my favorite is Bonmati. Her IQ and understanding of the game are also very good.

“He controls Barcelona’s midfield, he doesn’t just control the pitch, he also adds goals and assists to his game. When you are a midfielder and have those qualities, you become a very great player.”

Bay FC defender Jen Beattie: “I prefer Trinity Rodman. She’s not having an incredible season. She’s having an incredible performance in the Olympics.”

“He has the perfect combination of pace and technical ability. The speed they carry up the pitch is incredible.

“He really deserves it. He doesn’t do it for club and counter, which puts you in a different mix for the Ballon d’Or. He doesn’t do everything at every level.”

Former England striker Ellen White: “Trinity Rodman suits Win Am or Sophia Smith or Aitana Bonmati.

“But I want to give a shout out to Barbra Banda. She won great Olympics and scored consecutive hat tricks. She was the second-leading scorer in the NWSL with 13 goals in 20 games.”

There are 30 candidates in both the male and female categories.

Six England players were nominated in the men’s category (captain Harry Kane, midfielders Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Declan Rice and forwards Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer).

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

For the first time since 2003, we were unable to nominate eight-time winner Messi and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the women’s category, the British trio Lauren James, Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hemp were nominated for the award.

A further six candidates have been nominated, with Chelsea duo Sjoeke Nusken and Mayra Ramirez from the Women’s Super League, Manchester City’s Yui Hasegawa and Khadija Shaw and Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey.

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

Each jury member selects 10 actors from the list of candidates in descending order of merit.

These 10 players were awarded 15, 12, 10, eight, seven, five, three, two and one points respectively.

The player scored the most points when he was awarded the Ballon d’Or award.

Full list of rankings – 30th to second – follow the winner’s announcement.

Real Madrid’s winger Vinicius Jr became the clear leader to win this award for the first time.

Di, 24, scored 24 goals and made 11 assists in all competitions last season as Madrid won the La Liga title and extended their record 15th Champions League title.

Brazil secured a 2-0 win for Madrid in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in June.

Good factor against Vinicius’ performance in Brazil. E bin scored just two goals in nine games in this year’s contract and could not prevent Uruguay from exiting to the quarter-finals of the Copa America.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri na Vinicius is his closest rival.

Bin Dey, 28, was instrumental in City’s Premier League title victory last season.

I am the player of the tournament in which Spain beat England in the Euro 2024 final in June.

Vinicius Jr.’s teammate from the club, Jude Bellingham, continues to compete with Real Madrid after his first season and scores 23 goals in 42 matches.

Last year’s winner, Bonmati, is not the clear favorite to retain her crown.

World Cup winner Bin is having a superb campaign for Barcelona as he helped his club win a fifth consecutive Liga F title last season.

Bonmati bin scored to seal Barcelona’s Champions League final victory over Lyon in May and was named player of the tournament.

At international level, he strengthened his claim to the award by leading Spain to the UEFA Nations League title and scoring the first goal in a 2-0 win against France in February.

Bonmati’s biggest rival is her Barcelona colleague Caroline Graham Hansen.

The Norwegian winger top-scored Liga F with 21 goals and made 19 assists, which earned him a nomination for the team of the tournament after Barcelona’s Champions League victory.

Room contenders include Kadidiatou Diani, who helped Lyon to the French league title, Barcelona forward Salma Paralluelo, who finished third last year, and Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson, whose four goals helped the United States lead Paris to an Olympic gold medal .

In addition to the two main awards, eight chamber awards are waiting for their winners.

Kopa Trophy gives this award to the best player under the age of 21.

They gave the Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper.

The Men’s Coach of the Year award and the Women’s Coach of the Year award are also eligible for club or national team managers to win this award.

The Club of the Year cup is also awarded to both men’s and women’s teams.

Gerd Muller received a Socrates award for humanitarian aid in addition to the previous season’s top scorer award.