Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Who will dominate the 2024 Ballon d'Or race?

Those who kept up closely with European soccer didn't find too many surprises on the list of nominees for the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Real Madrid and Manchester City are clear frontrunners-a fact borne out by their heavy rosters in nominees, a reflection of dominant seasons on the international stage. But whereas favorites such as Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Erling Haaland were included in this year's list, there was also room for several surprises, with players from clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen and Girona making their mark.

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Real Madrid Dominates the List

Real Madrid cements its place once again as one of the soccer powerhouses of the world with six players nominated. This is also not a surprise, considering how individual brilliance from some of their important players contributed greatly to this. Vinicius Junior established himself as one of the finest forwards in the world; his game style is really pacey, very accurate in dribbling, and capable of scoring during crucial moments, something which makes him one of the most hazardous players in European soccer. No wonder he is considered one of the leading favorites for lifting the award.

Another big name coming from Real Madrid's ranks is Jude Bellingham. Even though he is still very young, he proved to be an important piece in Madri's midfield. Praise for his great vision and intelligence of the game, Bellingham was crucial in defense and offense this season. Even though he has joined this club just now, he showed that he belongs among the best.

By no means least would be Federico Valverde. Uruguay's midfielder is a player of the most immense versatility; this means he really could play all sorts of positions with almost identical quality. Meanwhile, his blend of stamina and physical strength, besides being technically great, simply makes him one of the most complete players on this list. And Valverde has that knack of stepping up at crucial times, contributing to attack and defense.

Manchester City: Quality Over Quantity

Manchester City may have fewer nominees, but the ones they do are of the cream level. Erling Haaland is doubtless the biggest name coming from the English side. Having had an outstanding season in the Premier League, with 31 goals scored, Erling showed that his ability to decide games and his hunger for titles make him one of the top favorites for the award. He's always a physical presence in the box, constant danger for opponents, and he has now become important to Pep Guardiola's tactic.

Another sure thing in City is midfielder Rodri, whose steady displays were rewarded on multiple occasions in various competitions. Rodri enjoyed brilliant performances not only for his club but also for the Spanish national team, where he was named the best player of Euro 2024. His role in midfield as the "heartbeat" of maintaining defense and offense places him among the best players in his position around the world.

Phil Foden is the future of English soccer, being young, talented, and having already proved his skills at the highest level by combining creativity with a sharp finish; thus, he is one of the main hopes for both Manchester City and the English national team in the coming years, and well-deserved his nomination is.

Kylian Mbappé, The New Era at Real Madrid

The skilled Kylian Mbappé, now wearing Real Madrid's pure white jersey, astonishes the audiences with his bright performances of a true professional. His transfer to Real Madrid marked a whole new phase of the player in his quest to be recognized as the world's finest. Mbappé's explosive pace, incredible dribbling, and innate scoring instinct make him a constant danger to any defense. He thus remains one of the big favorites for the Ballon d'Or.

Surprises on the List

While the big clubs tend to hog the headlines, there were also several interesting surprises on this year's list. Three Bayer Leverkusen players made the final listings: Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz, and Alejandro Grimaldo. Following a historic season for the German club, each of these three players had outstanding seasons and was fundamental to Leverkusen having such great domestic and international results.

Xhaka, Germany international, shifted from Arsenal to Leverkusen, bringing bundles of experience and leadership in the middle of the park. He was instrumental in regulating the tempo of games or dictating the flow.

Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz is one of the brightest prospects in world soccer. Though still so young, Wirtz had already shown maturity on the pitch, regularly providing scoring opportunities for his teammates due to his brilliant vision and playmaking.

Grimaldo, Leverkusen's left-back, is another vital element in balancing defensive-offensive tasks. His versatility and effectiveness depend on great possibilities of offering quality offensive support while maintaining defensive solidity.

Yashin Trophy and Coach of the Year

Inasmuch as the Ballon d'Or race is the biggest fight, the next most prestigious honor is that of the Yashin Trophy, which goes to the best goalkeeper of the season. The candidates include Emiliano Martínez, the wild card for Argentina and Aston Villa, and Lunin from Real Madrid stepped up after the injury of Courtois and was instrumental in the semifinal run of Madrid in the Champions League.

A special mention will go to Mike Maignan from AC Milan; the French goalkeeper has been a fortress in Milan's goal, always saving at crucial moments of the season, and has helped keep the club competitive in European competitions.

Coach of the Year will be an intense showdown between Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola. Ancelotti, with his wealth of experience and numerous titles, comes up against Guardiola, who keeps changing his tactics and takes Manchester City to new heights. Both are globally acclaimed coaching greats, and each has earned their place among the finalists. But we can't overlook Xabi Alonso--under his guidance, Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga undefeated, ending Bayern Munich's reign and finishing with an unbeaten streak of 51 games.

What's Next?

Finalists for the 2024 Ballon d'Or represent the cream of what happened in world soccer last season. Real Madrid, with its star-studded lineup, and Manchester City, with its standout players, are leading the nominations. Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé-just to name a few-are among the favorites for this trophy, but the inclusion of surprise players from Bayer Leverkusen only underlines that the sport is more in flux than ever.

This year, it provides some of the sternest competition in recent years, with any one of the nominees very likely to walk away with the trophy in a ceremony planned for October 28 in Paris. We can only wait and see who gets crowned as the best player in the world for 2024.