Updated Ballon d’Or 2024 Rankings After Vinicius Junior, Bellingham Win UEFA Champions League

• Vinicius Junior took another huge step towards winning a maiden Ballon d'Or title after starring in the Champions League
• The Brazilian star bagged Los Blancos' second goal of the night after Dani Carjaval broke the deadlock only nine minutes earlier
• Sports Brief has drawn up an in-depth analysis of the top five favourites to succeed record winner, Lionel Messi, later this year

Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal bagged a goal apiece to help Real Madrid win a record-extending UEFA Champions League title on June 1 at the iconic Wembley Stadium.

The former made a huge claim for the Ballon d'Or award by putting on a magnificent showing despite his team being second-best side for large periods of the game.

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Borussia Dortmund were the better side from the onset, with Karim Adeyemi and Niclas Füllkrug particularly guilty of missing good chances.

However, Real Madrid quickly exerted their pedigree and authority in the game, with Gregor Kobel forced to make decent saves before Carvajal's breakthrough.

The club season might be over, but football will quickly return in under two weeks when continental championships take centre stage in Germany and the United States of America.

The Euro Championships and Copa America are expected to have a huge bearing on how the Ballon d'Or vote will go.

Ballon d'Or 2024 rankings after Champions League final

Sports Brief looks at the top five candidates for the coveted golden ball after the Champions League final.

5. Harry Kane - Bayern Munich and England

Harry Kane's move to Bayern Munich to win trophies did not go as planned, with Bayer Leverkusen winning both domestic cups.

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Nonetheless, Kane claimed his first Golden Shoe award by outscoring everyone in Europe.

Also, and most importantly, all is not lost for him yet, as he is the leader of a highly talented English squad at the Euro championships. A summer win in Germany puts him right back in contention.

4. Phil Foden - Manchester City and England

Phil Foden elevated his game to greater heights this season, starring in a history-making Manchester City side that became the first side to win four successive Premier League titles.

His 19 goals and eight assists, including two on the final decisive day against West Ham United, won him the best player of the season.

Manchester City's elimination in the Champions League quarter-finals is the only reason he hasn't broken into the podium places in our rankings. A good performance in Germany for Gareth Southgate's side could negate that and propel him into the top three.

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3. Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain and France

Kylian Mbappe's last attempt to win a maiden Champions League title was ended by an immaculate Borussia Dortmund side in the semi-finals.

Champions League failure notwithstanding, he still had a decent season in front of goal, with only Kane and Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy outscoring him. The goals helped him bow out with another Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and Trophée des Champions.

The Real Madrid newcomer will be buoyed by the strength of the French squad when they get their Euro 2024 campaign underway later this month. Les Blues are one of the favourites in Germany, and should Mbappe star in Diddier Deschamps' side, he will have the firepower to threaten the leading candidates.

2. Jude Bellingham - Real Madrid and England

By his own admission, he doesn't deserve the Ballon d'Or this year, but boy, what a debut season he has had in Spain. At only 20 years of age, Bellingham took to life in Madrid like a duck to water, quickly taking a command of the Pichichi race.

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Although he didn't win the goal-scorer award in the end, his goals - especially the ones in El Clasico - helped Real Madrid win another La Liga title.

His goal returns for a midfielder were great, but the major drawback for his Ballon d'Or chase was that he didn't rise to the occasion in Madrid's run-up to the win. He only assisted once in the Round of 16 and was hooked off in the semi-final and final.

A good run with England at Euro 2024 might help him usurp our number one pick for the award.

1. Vinicius Junior - Real Madrid and Brazil

That Vinicius Junior has grown in leaps and bounds since joining the capital club in 2018 cannot be understated. From failing a skill move during his presentation to being so bad that Karim Benzema mocked him for playing against them, the Brazilian was in the 'pits'.

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But gradually, he repaid the club's trust and started putting in consistent top performances. His goals in the Champions League have come at crucial stages, particularly against Bayern Munich and the one in the final to put the game beyond Dortmund's reach.

The only concern would be that his Brazil side haven't been at their best in recent seasons and might be undone in the Copa America. With Neymar sidelined, Vinicius will have to take another front-foot approach to turn his Ballon d'Or dream into a reality.

Women's Ballon d'Or 2024 rankings

Sports Brief has also previously reported on the Women's 2024 Ballon d'Or rankings after the end of the season.

Aitana Bonmati is seemingly set for her second successive golden ball after starring in Barcelona's quadruple win.

The attacking midfielder leads a legion of female Catalans stars who have been untouchable in Europe this season.