Intense lobbying efforts for top individual honour
With the voting deadline of September 28 less than two weeks away, the competition for the men’s Ballon d’Or has intensified. This year’s race is considered open, with no clear frontrunner among the leading contenders. The odds are tightly packed, indicating an unpredictable outcome.
Clubs and players have significantly increased their lobbying efforts. France Football has selected 100 journalists to cast votes, evaluating the credentials of 30 finalists. Some finalists have publicly advocated for their own candidacies.
Lamine Yamal, for instance, stated in an interview with Movistar that he believes he deserves the Ballon d’Or, positioning himself and Kylian Mbappé as the two best players. Similarly, Kylian Mbappé expressed confidence in his own chances, saying he would vote for himself. These statements highlight the self-belief among top contenders for football’s highest individual award.
Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste has also voiced support for Lamine Yamal, hoping for “justice” in the award decision. Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho, meanwhile, backed Mbappé’s candidacy, noting that the best player does not necessarily have to be from Paris Saint-Germain or Spain, and highlighting Mbappé’s individual historical achievements this summer.
Leading contenders and team campaigns
Despite the public campaigns from Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé, neither player currently leads the betting markets. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich is presently the favourite, followed by Lamine Yamal in second place, Kylian Mbappé in third, and Rodri in fourth.
Campaigning for the award extends beyond individual players. Bayern Munich has released a video featuring several players, including nominees Michael Olise and Luis Díaz, along with Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, and Jonathan Tah, arguing that Kane should win. Kimmich highlighted Kane’s contribution, mentioning his 70 goals and significant importance to the team beyond just scoring.
Rodri’s candidacy has received less public promotion compared to Lamine Yamal’s, possibly to avoid overshadowing his compatriot. However, Fabián Ruiz, another nominee, expressed his aspiration to win the trophy in an interview with France Football, calling it “something very special and a great honor.”
Paris Saint-Germain has adopted a collective approach, hoping one of their stars will secure the prize. However, the abundance of candidates from the club, which includes Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Fabián Ruiz, could potentially work against them. Coach Luis Enrique believes a PSG player should win, while Dembélé, the current holder of the award, also expects it to remain with a PSG player, though he stated he would not vote for himself.
Lionel Messi, who is fifth in the betting markets, has received support from Inter Miami interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos, who expressed gratitude for Messi’s continued contention for the award after a performance against Nashville. Messi has won the trophy eight times, and Cristiano Ronaldo has won it five times.
The final two weeks of deliberation are expected to be busy for the voting panel. The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 16.
The growing significance of the award
The Ballon d’Or, while carrying no cash prize, has become increasingly valuable for players and their teams, leading to increased income and status. Many players have bonuses linked to the award in their boot contracts, and winning it can boost their overall marketing value, as well as that of their club. Clubs can also anticipate higher merchandise sales if one of their players wins.
The award has gained significant prominence in football discussions, particularly during the early months of the European season. The list of 30 candidates was released on September 8 by France Football, the award organiser. The ceremony will be held in London, despite only five of the 30 nominees playing in the English Premier League. The 100 invited journalists, representing the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings, will cast their votes.
The self-promotion by leading candidates is a relatively recent trend in football, a team sport where individual accolades were once less publicly pursued. With no clear favourite this year, players and their public relations agencies are intensifying their campaigns, openly showcasing achievements to garner votes. The trophy presentation is set for October 26.
Source: en.as.com
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