Ruben Dias - Manchester City

Ruben Dias was a key player in Manchester City’s Premier League title retaining season having made 45 appearances in all competitions last season.

And as a major reason for City’s dominance on English football - having won the Premier League, the Club World Cup and reaching the FA Cup Final - Dias is nominated for the Ballon d’Or award.

Foden is the second Manchester City man on this list and it is no surprise. Like Dias, Foden came away from last season with a Premier League and Club World Cup title, Foden scoring 19 Premier League goals along the way.

But not only this Foden also earned himself the Premier League player of the Season award and helped guide England to a Euro 2024 final.

A pretty special year especially considering he is only 24 years old.

Erling Haaland - Manchester City

He just had to appear on this list didn’t he?

The robot that is Erling Haaland joins his Man City teammates in the nominations having not only won multiple trophies but also wracked up an astonishing 27 goals in 31 Premier League games. Not only this but he also managed 6 in the UEFA Champions League.

Is there a better finisher in world football than Haaland?

Rodri - Manchester City

The last player from Pep Guardiola’s super team on this list Rodri is arguably the favourite to win the award this year.

Extending himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world Rodri was a key part of Manchester City’s squad as well as Spain’s Euro 2024 winning team as well (picking up the Player of the Tournament award in Germany as well).

A year in football doesn’t get much better than that.

Rodri's stats this season compared to Modric's Ballon d'Or campaign 😮

Rodri is a CDM 👀 pic.twitter.com/7a0gYNpHc0
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 17, 2024

Martin Ødegaard - Arsenal

Arsenal may not have won the title last season but they certainly made Manchester City work for it. And one major reason for them having such a strong season had to be their captain Martin Ødegaard.

Ødegaard’s 8 goals and 10 assists last season were crucial to Arsenal’s season. Without him Arsenal’s season could have been a lot different.

Declan Rice - Arsenal

Arsenal paid a lot of money for Declan Rice last season and yet he has proven to be worth every penny since joining the club.

Rice made 51 appearances for the gunners last season picking up 7 goals and 8 assists across the season. Not only this but Rice guided England to a Euro 2024 final playing a key part in that squad as well.

Bukayo Saka - Arsenal

Arsenal’s academy graduate Bukayo Saka is on his way to becoming a legend for the North London club and with this nomination that may be even more so.

A constant source of both goals as well as assists Saka with the England international picking up 34 goal contributions across the season.

Helping get England to a Euro 2024 final as well, Saka was a key member of Gareth Southgate’s squad.

Bukayo Saka final 2023/24 stats:

34 G/A
20 Goals
14 Assists

No other player in Europe's top five leagues have both more goals and more assists than him. pic.twitter.com/Y9b1B15xzU
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) May 19, 2024

William Saliba - Arsenal

The final Arsenal player on this list is William Saliba and after a season that many believe set him out as the best central defender in England it is clear to see why.

Saliba played every single minute of Premier League football last season and starred in a defence that came away with more clean sheets than any other team in the division.

A good Euros campaign with France as well and Saliba really has set himself out as one of the best defenders not only in England but the world

Cole Palmer - Chelsea

Before last season Palmer wasn’t really a name that people knew about. But after his displays for Chelsea and England last season he has put himself in the spotlight.

Palmer managed 22 goals and 11 assists in the league last season. Certainly the star man in this Chelsea team that have struggled in recent years.

Not only this but he was a massive part of England’s road to the Euro 2024 final - including a goal in the final itself.

Cold Palmer really is a household name now.

Emiliano Martinez - Aston Villa

Potentially the most shocking pick from this list on the surface, Martinez really did have an incredible year last season.

Martinez was instrumental to Aston Villa’s top 4 finish last season but also helped guide Argentina to a Copa America victory - conceding just 1 goal along the way.

This is the second time in 2 years that Martinez has been nominated for the award. It is crazy to think that just 10 seasons ago he was being sent on loan to Sheffield Wednesday.

Emiliano Martinez has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or 2x years in a row👀

10 years ago he'd just been on loan at Sheffield Wednesday & only managed 15 appearances 😲

The rise of Martinez🔥
— Football Park (@thefootballpark) September 5, 2024

English Premier League

25/05/25 15:00