The Ballon d’Or, which is regarded as football’s greatest individual honour, has typically gone to forward players or attack-minded midfielders. There has been little reward for the great defenders of the game throughout the history of the award, which was first handed out back in 1956.
The betting markets for the Ballon d’Or are annually dominated by attacking players. That reflects the history of the award, and sports betting sites, recommended by Legalbet.uk or other trusted review platforms, recognise that, by typically making the prominent goalscorers of the modern game the favourites to earn the honour. But in 2024, there was a notable shift in the trend of attacking players’ domination as Manchester City’s defensive midfielder Rodri won the Ballon d’Or. Can Rodri’s victory crack the door open wider for greater recognition of defensive players?
Defenders Overlooked
Just three defenders in more than seven decades have claimed the Ballon d’Or title. The first to do so was Germany’s great Franz Beckenbauer, who won it twice, in 1972 and 1976. Mathias Sammer became the second defender to win the honour in 1996 and the last defender to do so was Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. Many of the greatest defenders in history have not won the Ballon d’Or or were even nominated.
So, defenders have been historically overshadowed, which is understandable to a degree. It’s typically the exciting, high-profile goalscoring greats of the game like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho that grab the greatest attention. Admittedly, these were some of the greatest soccer players of all-time.
How Significant Was Rodri’s Win?
Midfielder Rodri, who helped his club Manchester City to a historic fourth Premier League title in a row last season, along with helping guide Spain to the European Championship title, was always one of the front-runners in the odds at any sportsbook for the 2024 Ballon d’Or prize. The Spaniard is one of the best midfielders in the world and the best defensive midfielder on the planet.
But due to the form of Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who had another brilliant year in capturing the La Liga and Champions Leagues with his club, the high-profile young Brazilian was expected to claim the title.
But instead, it was an emotional Rodri who took it, and for many, it was a big win for football, as the Ballon d’Or is sometimes seen as little more than a popularity contest. Real Madrid was so dismayed about Vinicius Jr not getting the 2024 award, they complained that they hadn’t been respected and boycotted the ceremony.
So the 2024 award was seen as less of a popularity contest and a true win for football, with more of an unsung hero of football getting the recognition that his performances deserved.
Can Another Defender Win?
Since Fabio Cannavaro’s win in 2006, there has only been one defender to make it into the top three of the Ballon d’Or Awards. That was Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, who was runner-up to Lionel Messi in 2019.
Van Dijk’s Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander Arnold recently spoke about his desire to be the first fullback to win the Ballon d’Or, another highlight of just how defenders have been left on the sidelines.
Many expected Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal, who won more trophies than Vinícius Jr did last season, to genuinely be a contender in 2024, but he couldn’t even crack the top three. Carvajal was the only defender in the top 20.
The 20-year anniversary of Cannavaro’s win is on the horizon, and in many ways, it would be fitting to see a defender win the award in 2026. But that’s still going to be easier said than done, with the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Jr likely to be among the main contenders for years to come.
Who Are the Next Defensive Greats?
Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win leads to another fascinating question. If the door has been opened for defenders to win the award, who is good enough to do it? Are there any true greats out there in the modern game? Someone who can surpass greats like Roberto Carlos, Carles Puyol, Sergio Ramos, Paulo Maldini, and Marcel Desailly because none of those legends ever won the award.
More often than not, the Ballon d’Or winner has helped their team to silverware, which gives them extra points with the judging panel. So you still have to look towards the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City for the next defensive great. Arsenal’s William Saliba, Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, and Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo are potential future candidates, along with Real’s Eder Militao. These are some of the best defenders in the world currently.
Virgil van Dijk, despite heading towards the end of his career, is a player who could potentially get there. But Manchester City’s Rúben Dias is perhaps the biggest candidate for the next defender to win the Ballon d’Or. He has a complete game and a tremendous ability to read what is in front of him, and the 27-year-old has plenty of time on his side as well.
