The nominees for the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards were announced announced on Wednesday. Turkish stars Arda Guler and Hakan Calhanoglu are among the candidates of 2024.
Arda Guler nominated for Kopa Trophy
Real Madrid’s 19-year-old talent Arda Guler has been nominated for the Kopa Trophy, awarded annually to the best player under the age of 21. Guler has made a notable impact with Real Madrid, scoring six goals in 16 appearances. His performances during EURO 2024 have also garnered attention. Other nominees for the Kopa Trophy include Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United, Mathys Tel of Bayern Munich, and Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain.
Hakan Calhanoglu nominated for Ballon d’Or
Hakan Calhanoglu, who plays for Inter Milan in Italy, is a nominee for the Ballon d’Or’s Best Player of the Year award. Other notable nominees include Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane. For the first time since 2003, football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are not included in the Ballon d’Or nominees, marking a significant departure from tradition.
