The battle for this year's Ballon d'Or seems to be one of the most wide open in years, with a series of new contenders emerging from the long shadows of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now the two global greats are a fading force, the prestigious award - presented annually by France Football - is truly up for grabs on October 28, when it will be handed over at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
In its 68th year, the golden ball could go to one of Real Madrid's Champions League winners, a South American star such as Copa America hero Lautaro Martinez, or perhaps an individual goalscoring machine like Erling Haaland or Harry Kane?
Now that the 30-man 'shortlist' has been announced, Sports Mole takes a look at the leading candidates to claim the Ballon d'Or for 2024.
Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid and Brazil)
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Without doubt, Vinicius Junior has not hidden his desire to take possession of the cherished golden ball - be it this year or in the not too distant future.
Naming Kaka, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho as his Brazilian inspirations, the explosive forward has stepped up a gear this year and is surely among the favourites to prevail in October.
Vini enjoyed a superb 2023-24 season with all-conquering Real Madrid, who won the Champions League and La Liga with more than a little help from his impressive tally of 24 goals and 11 assists.
While the Copa America did not pan out as planned, with Brazil crashing out in the quarter-finals, his impact in 2024 has been significant - but will that prove enough to earn sufficient points from the voting panel?
Rodri (Manchester City and Spain)
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For all its dominance of European football - financially, at least - it was all the way back in 2008 when the Premier League could last claim the current Ballon d'Or winner, during Cristiano Ronaldo's first spell at Manchester United.
Now, an integral cog in the Manchester City machine that claimed their fourth-straight title last season could finally end that wait - particularly after his exploits with Spain this summer.
La Roja's deserved win at Euro 2024 again highlighted Rodri's all-round ability and nine-out-of-10 consistency, which has earned him attention amid a sea of headline-stealing attackers.
The former Atletico Madrid man could become the first midfielder to win since Luka Modric six years ago, and few would argue if he was handed the trophy.
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid and France)
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Having missed out by settling for third place behind Lionel Messi last year, Kylian Mbappe was widely expected to take the crown this time around, confirming his status as the world's greatest player.
Although a messy end to his Paris Saint-Germain career often saw him benched last season, heading into Euro 2024 he was set to shine again, just as at Qatar 2022.
Of course, the France captain had a Euros to forget, scoring only once after sustaining a serious facial injury that saw his play clearly inhibited by a protective mask.
Since then, his dream move to Real Madrid has started smoothly, despite concerns about how he will dovetail with Vini Jr - the man who may pip him to the Ballon d'Or next month.
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen and Germany)
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While Spain stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams produced a series of thrilling displays throughout Euro 2024, their club seasons were not quite as electrifying and they are both likely to miss out on the main prize this year.
However, a former teenage sensation should come a little closer to the podium, as Florian Wirtz not only impressed for hosts Germany at the Euros but also played a key role in Bayer Leverkusen's record-breaking Bundesliga win, racking up 21 goals and the same number of assists.
Die Werkself's 52-match unbeaten domestic run would not have been possible without their attacking inspiration, whose hat-trick against Werder Bremen ultimately ended their long wait for the Meisterschale.
It should not be forgotten that Wirtz had to overcome a serious knee injury in order to fulfil his early promise, and even if he does not win in 2024, the clever forward may be back in contention for several years to come.
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid and Germany - now retired)
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Bowing out at the top, Toni Kroos was at his impeccable best for the final year of an illustrious career, laying on 12 assists and making Real Madrid's midfield tick in their latest season of glory.
Not content with winning the Champions League - in which he played a crucial role during the knockout phase - and La Liga once again, Kroos then turned back the clock by reversing his international retirement.
Just a few years his senior, new Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann tempted Kroos back for one last stand, as the European Championship returned to German soil.
Though the fairytale ending was spoiled when Germany went out in the quarter-finals, it is fair to say there have been few more influential figures in football throughout 2024.
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan and Argentina)
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One man that did taste international success this summer was Argentina's Lautaro Martinez, who continued his comeback from being dropped midway through his nation's Qatar 2022 triumph.
All told, 'El Toro' racked up 35 goals in a superb season that ended with Copa America glory and also saw the hard-running striker captain Inter Milan to the Serie A title.
Martinez not only fired Inter to their 20th Scudetto but also won the race to be named Italy's Capocannoniere, before decisively exorcising his demons at a major finals.
Adding a Golden Boot to his 2024 haul, five goals at the Copa America - including an extra-time winner in the final - capped off a truly stellar year.
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England)
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Phil Foden may have reached a new pinnacle in the Premier League last season, but a mystifying inability to reproduce his best stuff on the international stage surely rules the Manchester City star out of the running.
By contrast, England teammate Jude Bellingham enjoyed a fantastic debut season with European champions Real Madrid, and then emerged with credit from England's Euro 2024 campaign.
En route to winning La Liga and the Champions League during his first year in Spain, the versatile midfielder registered 23 goals and 13 assists in 42 matches, mostly played in an unfamiliar attacking position.
Despite sometimes cutting a jaded figure, Bellingham followed up by helping the Three Lions reach the Euro final, scoring a spectacular winner against Slovakia in the last 16 and a stunning overhead kick to see off Serbia.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City and Norway)
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Runner-up to Lionel Messi last year, as the Argentinian maestro won his eighth - and surely final - Ballon d'Or, Erling Haaland is something of a rarity in the 2020s: a top-class, goal-getting number nine.
The Man City striker features on the shortlist after continuing to rack up remarkable numbers in the Premier League and Champions League, but his nation's absence from Euro 2024 will - fairly or not - count against him.
Norway again failed to qualify for a major tournament, so Haaland was denied a big chance to shine on the international stage.
Another of his kind, Harry Kane, did have that opportunity but - perhaps owing to injury - was a shadow of his former self at the Euros, after taking to the Bundesliga like a duck to water and breaking numerous records with Bayern Munich.
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid and Spain)
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It is rare that a right-back gains consideration for the game's individual prizes - just ask the self-deprecating Gary Neville - but there is no doubt that Dani Carvajal should at least come into the conversation this year.
After providing a brilliant blend of defensive grit and attacking thrust to Real Madrid in their trophy-laden 2023-24 campaign - tallying eight assists in the process - he went on to do the same for Spain at Euro 2024.
Brought into the limelight when scoring in this year's Champions League final, Carvajal provided the platform for others to star on the international stage as La Roja claimed glory in Berlin.
As with Rodri, he would be the first Spanish player to win the Ballon d'Or since legendary forward Luis Suarez some 64 years ago - both Xavi and Andres Iniesta were beaten by Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi in their World Cup-winning year of 2010.
Ballon d'Or 2024 shortlist in full
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Phil Foden (Man City)
Ruben Dias (Man City)
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Erling Haaland (Man City)
Nicolas Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
Artem Dovbik (Roma)
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Mats Hummels (Roma)
Rodri (Man City)
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Vitinha (PSG)
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter)
Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Jonathan O'Shea
