Women’s Ballon d’Or 2024 Rankings: Aitana Bonmati Leads Fellow Barcelona Teammates

• Aitana Bonmati is once again the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or Féminin for the second consecutive year
• Having won a first-ever quadruple, Barcelona players are expected to dominate the list in the October vote
• Sports Brief brings you explained reasonings of who could win the award and other possible contenders

The sixth edition of the Women's Ballon d'Or will take place later this year where the best of the best will be feted at a glitzy ceremony in Paris.

Just like last year's award was dominated by the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup won by Spain, the Paris Olympics is also expected to have a huge bearing on who wins the individual award.

Women's Ballon d'Or 2024 rankings

Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thierry Henry and Neymar among the 10 greatest players never to win coveted Ballon d'Or

Football

But even before the teams head to France for the summer games, a couple of things have already gone by to give a strong indication of what to expect.

Sports Brief analyses the top five favourites for the award as things stand.

5. Kadidiatou Diani - Lyon and France

Kadidiatou Diani's place as one of the game's most accomplished strikers was never in question but she never got the plaudits she deserved because of the team she was in -PSG.

She switched sides to Lyon last summer and won the league title. She also starred in the Champions League, where they reached the final. No one outscored her.

The 29-year-old still has one gambit to play. She is the leading face of France's pursuit of the Olympic title and if she can deliver that, her standing in these rankings could immensely improve.

Five reasons why Man City won the Premier League

Football

4. Mariona Caldentey - Barcelona and Spain

Caldentey has been the first-choice number 9 for the departing Jonatan Giráldez. She has nine goals and eight assists in Liga F but over 40 goal involvements in all competitions.

Caldentey, who is reportedly on her way to Arsenal, was the star performer in the Nations League final when they beat France. If she can replicate that in Paris later this year, she can get on the podium at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

3. Salma Paralluelo - Barcelona and Spain

The former sprinter had a lighting campaign last time out where she was one of Spain's star performers in their World Cup triumph. Her efforts then saw her finish on the podium in the 2023 Ballon d'Or race behind Sam Kerr and Aitana Bonmati.

She has elevated her game this season even further, registering over 40 goal involvements as Barcelona romped to a first-ever quadruple. Of the goal involvements, she had 18 goals and 3 assists in Liga F.

Pep Guardiola: Why 2023/2024 Premier League title is most significant of them all

Football

The 20-year-old is certain to be included in La Roja's Olympic squad.

2. Caroline Graham Hansen - Barcelona and Norway

Show us a better right winger in the women's game. We will wait. Hansen can dribble, beat defenders, and score. She is the complete package.

Her stats this season in Liga F are insane - 19 goals, 18 assists. Cumulatively she has 55 goal involvements this season. Norway's absence from the 2024 Olympics might hurt her chances, but as it stands, she deserves a place on the podium.

1. Aitana Bonmati - Barcelona and Spain

Aitana Bonmati might not have the kind of statistics Hansen or Paralluelo boast of but for a midfielder, she is surely exceeding expectations.

She has been the X-factor of Blaugrana's historic performances this season.

Bonmati scored in every round of the knockout stages of the Champions League, including the final against Lyon. But perhaps the most important of the goals was the one she scored against Chelsea in the second leg when her side was looking for inspiration from somewhere.

Funniest moments of the season: From AFCON 2023 to Guardiola's reaction to Son's miss

Football

The reigning holder will headline Spain's squad at the Paris Olympics, where they are one of the favourites. Win that and she could match her teammate Alexia Putellas in winning the Golden Ball twice.

Outside contenders

Chelsea might have won the Women's Super League but the manner in which they got knocked out of three cup competitions was dispiriting and with that Lauren James' Ballon d'Or chances took a serious tumble. James has 27 goal involvements this season.

The fact that the NWSL starts after the major leagues in Europe won't do Sophia Smith any favours. The American has, however, taken charge of the scoring charts with eight goals and six assists after only games. Her Ballon d'Or hopes will entirely depend on how big of an influence she can be in Emma Hayes' team at the Olympics.

Other names include the members of Barcelona's quadruple-winning season led by Patri Guijarro and former winner Putellas.

Victor Boniface: Xabi Alonso Explains Benching of Bayer Leverkusen Striker

Football

Ballon d'Or 2024 rankings

Sports Brief has also reported on the updated Ballon d'Or 2024 rankings after Real Madrid won the Champions League.

Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham took another huge step towards winning the individual award.

The former shone again on the grandest of platforms, scoring the second goal against Borussia Dortmund after Dani Carvajal had opened the scoring.