'New Generation has Potential...': Cristiano Ronaldo Identifies Potential Future Ballon d'Or Winners

For practically every football enthusiast of the previous and present generation, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi come first when the Ballon d'Or award is discussed. But these two guys missed the list jointly for the first time since 2003. Still, Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and top goal scorer in the history of the sport, has identified possible future award winners, thereby honouring the fresh football players who could turn out to be the finest player of the year. 

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Cristiano Ronaldo predicts the future of the Ballon d’Or award with Rio Ferdinand 

The list of candidates for the Ballon d'Or for 2024 omitted Cristiano Ronaldo despite him being the world's top goalscorer in 2023, as the Portuguese player is nearly 40 years old and is in the last stage of his playing career. Ronaldo said during a recent conversation on his YouTube channel with his former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand that the next generation of players has great potential. Among possible future Ballon d'Or honourees, he mentioned Kylian Mbappe , Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Lamine Yamal. Having won the esteemed accolade five times—second only to Lionel Messi's eight titles—Ronaldo offered his observations on the next generation of football players. Mbappe, along with Haaland, Bellingham, and Yamal, he is sure might be among the accolade's future recipients.

Cristiano Ronaldo: “Kylian Mbappé can win Ballon d’Or for the next few years! Also probably Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham”.

Rio Ferdinand: “Vinicius”. 

Cristiano Ronaldo: “Also Lamine Yamal”
It is important to note that all the names that CR7 has mentioned are nominated for this year’s award. 

Ballon d'Or 2024: Full nominees list

• Jude Bellingham
• Ruben Dias
• Phil Foden
• Federico Valverde
• Emiliano Martinez
• Nico Williams
• Erling Haaland
• Toni Kroos
• Granit Xhaka
• Artem Dovbik
• Dani Olmo
• Vinicius Jr
• Martin Odegaard
• Mats Hummels
• Florian Wirtz
• Harry Kane
• Rodri
• Declan Rice
• Vitinha
• Cole Palmer
• Lamine Yamal
• Dani Carvajal
• Bukayo Saka
• Hakan Calhanoglu
• William Saliba
• Kylian Mbappe
• Lautaro Martinez
• Ademola Lookman
• Antonio Rudiger
• Alejandro Grimaldo

The famous Ballon d’Or ceremony will be conducted by France Football on October 28, 2024. Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and Rodri are the favourites to win the award this year.