Which Barcelona players were nominated for the Ballon d'Or? Euro 2024 stars in contention for coveted prize

2024-09-04
3 min read
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Barcelona have a proud history at the Ballon d'Or, not least during the bulk of Lionel Messi's reign of dominance.

Blaugrana stars are not expected to be near the podium steps this time around after Xavi's final season at the helm ended with Barca a distant second to bitter rivals Real Madrid in La Liga.

They exited the UEFA Champions League at the quarterfinal stage and finished the season without a trophy.

However, the Barcelona squad boasts a number of vibrant young stars, not least Lamine Yamal, who excelled during Spain's triumphant Euro 2024 campaign.

Dani Olmo's form in Germany was a key factor in Barcelona electing to buy the attacking midfielder from RB Leipzig.

Find out which Barca players made the 30-man shortlist for world football's most prestigious individual prize.

MORE: All the latest soccer news | Barcelona news | Real Madrid news

Which Barcelona players were nominated for the Ballon d'Or 2024?

  • Lamine Yamal
  • Dani Olmo

Spain's Euro 2024 stars lead the way, although there is no place for Robert Lewandowski in a year when his celebrated contemporaries Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were each omitted.

Yamal and Barca's 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi were each on the 10-player shortlist for the Kopa Trophy, which recognises the best male player in the world under the age of 21.

Aitana Bonmati is favourite to retain the Ballon d'Or Feminin after another superb year with Barcelona and Spain. Bonmati is joined on the 30-player shortlist by team-mates Patricia Guijarro, Caroline Graham HansenLucy Bronze, Salma Paralluelo and former winner Alexia Putellas. 

Barcelona Femeni completed a clean sweep of major honours in 2023/24, winning Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de Espana Femenina and the UEFA Women's Champions League. Mariona Caldentey played a full part in that success before joining Arsenal this summer and has also been nominated. Ewa Pajor, who moved to Catalonia from Wolfsburg during the close season, completes a sizeable Barca contingent.

When is 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony?

The 2024 Ballon d'Or gala is due to be held on Monday, October 28, 2024 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

The ceremony is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET).