Ballon d'Or 2024: Neymar Names His Top Four Players for Award With Joint Second Place Finish

• Former Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has identified the four players he believes will be in contention for the Ballon d'Or
• Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the most successful footballers when it comes to the Ballon d'Or award
• Focus has since shifted to the 2024 edition of the award, with Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham favourites

Brazil superstar Neymar has named the quartet he feels will be in contention for the 2024 Ballon d'Or award.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are currently the two most successful professional footballers in terms of the 'golden ball' prize, having won it 13 times between them.

Messi is the record holder of the gong, winning it an incredible eight times during his illustrious career, per Euro Sport.

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This followed the 37-year-old's triumph in the 2022 World Cup, where he led Argentina to victory, finally capturing the ultimate prize in international football.

The 2024 edition of the award is already pitting a number of top players, with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, and Kylian Mbappe in the race to win the prestigious crown after an incredible 2023/24 campaign.

Messi and Ronaldo, with 13 Ballon d'Ors between them, are nearing the end of their illustrious careers, paving the way for a new generation of talent.

Neymar, who has never won the Ballon d'Or but finished third in 2015 and 2017, believes he knows who the next contenders are.

Neymar names Ballon d'Or favourites

Neymar has named Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior as his favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or.

He also predicts a tie for second place between Vinicius's teammates, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, and includes Kylian Mbappe, who is set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer, as another strong contender.

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According to Bola VIP via Sportbible, Neymar stated:

"Vini Júnior, first; Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham are tied, and obviously Mbappé enters the fight between those three."

Neymar's choices highlight the dominance of Real Madrid's talent, suggesting that the club will be a formidable force in Spain and Europe next season.

The 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Since 2007, when Kaka won, only Luka Modric and Karim Benzema have interrupted the Messi-Ronaldo dominance, underscoring their impact on world football over the past 15 years.

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Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, sharing his insights on who he is backing to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or award.

Brazilian star, Vinicius Jr, and his Real Madrid teammate, Bellingham, are the clear frontrunners to win the individual honour after both excelled.