Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Key Events
As anticipation builds for the prestigious awards at the Théâtre du Châtelet, fans and pundits alike await the announcement of this year’s football honors. The festivities include the following accolades:
- Men’s Ballon d’Or
- Women’s Ballon d’Or
- Kopa Trophy (best U21 player)
- Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper)
- Gerd Müller Trophy (top goalscorer)
- Men’s Club of the Year
- Women’s Club of the Year
- Men’s Coach of the Year
- Women’s Coach of the Year
Current Rankings for the Women’s Ballon d’Or:
11 Patri Guijarro (Barcelona/Spain)
12 Barbra Banda (Orlando/Zambia)
13 Lauren James (Chelsea/England)
14 Ada Hegerberg (Lyon/Norway)
15 Khadija Shaw (Man City/Jamaica)
16 Tabitha Chawinga (PSG/Malawi)
17 Alyssa Naeher (Chicago/USA)
18 Gabi Portilho (Corinthians/Brazil)
19 Giulia Gwinn (Bayern/Germany)
20 Lucy Bronze (Chelsea/England)
21 Mayra Ramírez (Chelsea/Colombia)
22 Glódis Viggósdóttir (Bayern/Iceland)
23 Tarciane (Houston/Brazil)
24 Lea Schüller (Bayern/Germany)
25 Sjœke Nüsken (Chelsea/Germany)
26 Yui Hasegawa (Man City/Japan)
27 Manuela Giugliano (Roma/Italy)
28 Lauren Hemp (Man City/England)
29 Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg/Poland)
30 Grace Geyoro (PSG/France)
The other nominees include prominent names such as Aitana Bonmatí, Caroline Graham Hansen, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Salma Paralluelo, Alexia Putellas, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and Lindsey Horan.
Preamble
Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! … But wait, what’s this? Ballon d’Or?! This night celebrates not just individual brilliance but ignites debates about the fundamental nature of football as a team sport. Before the gala in Paris even begins, a wave of drama has already unfolded.
Vinícius Júnior from Real Madrid emerged as the front-runner for the men’s award, captivating audiences with his electrifying performances. Yet, in a surprising twist, whispers suggested that Manchester City’s Rodri might challenge for the title. Reports intensified leading up to the event, hinting that Real Madrid has chosen not to participate in the ceremony amidst this speculation.
Rodri arrived at the event on crutches, adding intrigue to the conversation. Could this signal something significant regarding the voting or the outcome? As France Football commences its reveal of the top 30 contenders, fans are left to wonder how this could shift the dynamics of the awards.
In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmatí stands as the leading candidate to defend her title. Besides her, two of her Barcelona teammates, Caroline Graham Hansen and Mariona Caldentey, are also in the mix, with Caldentey recently transferring to Arsenal, which adds an extra layer of narrative to the evening’s proceedings.
Source
www.theguardian.com