Dani Carvajal rates chances of Ballon d’Or thanks to trophy-laden 2024

Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal has backed himself as a contender for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, having been named on the 30-player shortlist for football's top individual award.

The Ballon d'Or voting often favours players, even those in unfashionable positions, who have won multiple trophies during the season in question.

That is why Jorginho placed third in the 2021 standings after winning both the Champions League and European Championship. Raphael Varane was similarly seventh in 2018 as the sole winner of both the Champions League and World Cup in that particular year.

"In terms of stats and titles, yes. Almost unbeatable," Carvajal told reporters this week. "To see myself in the conversation for the Ballon d'Or...why not? I dream about it. But just to be there is an honour."

But, even with his record of success in 2024, the odds are still stacked against Carvajal in the Ballon d'Or. No defender has won the award since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006, when his performances at the back were the foundation of Italy's World Cup triumph. Virgil van Dijk, who finished second in 2019 behind Lionel Messi, is the only defender to have even got into the top three since Cannavaro.

In fact, since Matthias Sammer collected the Ballon d'Or in the wake of helping Germany win Euro '96, Roberto Carlos (2002) and Paolo Maldini (2003) are the only other defenders who've made the top three. However, goalkeepers Oliver Kahn (2001 and 2002), Gianluigi Buffon (2006) and Manuel Neuer (2014) have been top three finishers during that time period.

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