Women's Ballon d'Or Rankings GFXGOAL
Ameé Ruszkai

Women's Ballon d'Or 2024 Power Rankings: Aitana Bonmati in pole position for a second Golden Ball despite late push from the USWNT Olympic gold medallists

Power rankingsA. BonmatiSummer OlympicsWomen's Champions LeagueS. SmithT. RodmanM. SwansonC. HansenL. HoranL. JamesUSAEnglandBarcelonaWomen's footballNWSLWSLFEATUREST. ChawingaLyonMalawiParis Saint GermainNorwayChelsea FC WomenSpainA. PutellasPortland ThornsB. BandaOrlando PrideZambiaA. HegerbergP. GuijarroM. CaldenteyChicago Red StarsWashington SpiritBayern MunichGermany

The last three Golden Ball winners have represented Barcelona and Spain, and it looks likely that at least one of those themes will continue

It took until early August, but we know the players who are truly in contention for this year's Ballon d'Or Femenin. The women's football tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games was the final chance for stars to throw their hats in the ring and several did, while others strengthened their already strong cases. Now, all there is left to do is wait for the final ranking of this year's contenders, after France Football and new co-organisers, UEFA, announced the nominees on Wednesday, September 4.

Historically, players from the United States have struggled to really make their mark in the race for the Ballon d'Or, with the NWSL season always midway through when the window being judged closes. That was different in 2019, when the U.S. won the World Cup and Megan Rapinoe claimed the Golden Ball as a result, and it is again this year, after Emma Hayes' side triumphed at Paris 2024.

But there is also a whole European season that will be factored in as well, in which players from Barcelona in particular shone as the Catalans won another Champions League title. The last three winners of the Golden Ball have come from Barca - and the names of Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas are on the shortlist again this time around.

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So, who are the contenders for the 2024 Ballon d’Or Feminin ahead of the ceremony on Monday, October 28? GOAL takes a look at the front-runners…