As the summer's international tournaments come to a close, the 2024 Ballon d'Or race is heating up, with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior still vying for the top spot despite underwhelming performances.
The duo's Champions League triumph with Real Madrid may have earned them a nod, but their struggles on the international stage have raised doubts about their chances of dethroning Lionel Messi.
However, Messi himself is not without his own challenges. Argentina's strong start to the Copa America has put them on course for a historic third successive major tournament win, which would be a significant boost to Messi's Ballon d'Or hopes.
According to GOAL, other players like Kylian Mbappe, Toni Kroos, Jamal Musiala, and Cristiano Ronaldo are lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce on any slip-ups from the favorites.
Mbappe, in particular, has been impressive for France at Euro 2024, and could yet make a late push for the top spot.
So who are the top contenders for the 2024 Ballon d'Or?
Here's our power rankings of the top 10 footballers vying for the prestigious award:
The Top 10 Contenders:
1. Jude Bellingham
2. Vinicius Junior
3. Toni Kroos
4. Kylian Mbappe
5. Lionel Messi
6. Harry Kane
7. Lautaro Martinez
8. Florian Wirtz
9. Federico Valverde
10. Cristiano Ronaldo