Vinicius Junior was named Ballon d...oh, wait a minute.

Rodri was named Ballon d'Or winner for 2024 on Monday night, toppling the threat of Real Madrid duo Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, who appeared in ghost form at the ceremony after the club decided not to turn up.

The prestigious award takes into account the August-August period, meaning there is no time like the present for those who want to stake their claim for 2025. It's early, but who has smashed through the gates to get a leg up on the rest of the competition?

Let's take a look.

10. Kylian Mbappé

It's probably unfair to say Kylian Mbappé's start at Real Madrid has been poor. He has eight goals and two assists in 13 starts.

It's probably fairer to say his presence has disrupted the team's balance, halting Bellingham's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or anytime soon.

Mbappé will need to lead Madrid to trophies if he wins next year's top individual prize. He is the long-expected successor to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who is now in danger of doing a Neymar.

But really, the France international and Madrid just need to improve a little to get him up there again. He's simmering.

Just don't let him know he hasn't won before the ceremony, or else we'll never see him there again…

9. Pedri

It's so good to see Pedri fit and playing football again.

He is a key component of Barcelona's uptick in form under Hansi Flick, the man who is threading everything together alongside midfield partner Marc Casadó.

Pedri's ability to receive the ball, quickly turn and skip into space often relieves more pressure than it initially seems. His agility lets him avoid danger and spread the ball wide, bringing wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal into the game as they blast forward at pace.

Flick's Barca are incredibly well-balanced. They're also letting Pedri's best attributes shine. At 21 years old, he is already a key leader in this team that is setting itself up for a huge season.

8. Bukayo Saka

English players are not going to seriously push for the Ballon d'Or unless they win the Premier League or UEFA Champions League.

Bukayo Saka finished 21st in the 2024 voting, behind players such as Ademola Lookman and Hakan Çalhanoğlu. It's largely down to Arsenal and England failing to win anything, not his individual performances.

All Saka can do is continue to impact games like he is. He already has three goals and seven assists in eight Premier League matches this season, most recently terrorizing Andy Robertson in the Gunners' 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

The 23-year-old is often the difference between Arsenal looking good and looking excellent.

Should the Gunners push for title honours, Saka is the man who will be right up there when the next round of Ballon d'Or voting begins.

7. Cole Palmer

Now, take everything mentioned about Saka above and make it more intense.

Cole Palmer was often a one-man band for Chelsea last season, scoring a ridiculous 22 goals and assisting 11 in a poor Premier League season for the Blues.

The 22-year-old is still that man, albeit at an improved Chelsea side that is beginning to show its potential under new boss Enzo Maresca.

For all Palmer's brilliance—including scoring off the bench in the Euro 2024 final—he barely received any recognition in this year's voting. His 25th-placed finish was lower than Antonio Rudiger and Emiliano Martinez and barely higher than Vitinha.

Like Saka, all he can do is keep putting up the numbers and hope trophies fall into place.

Make no mistake about it, Palmer is one of the world's most impactful players. If he'd stayed at Manchester City and posted the same numbers, he'd likely have ranked in the top four.

6. Lamine Yamal

It's ridiculous to think Lamine Yamal already has a top-10 Ballon d'Or finish under his belt at 17 years old. He finished eighth in Monday's vote after a breakout season for the ages in which he played a key part in Spain capturing the Euro 2024 title.

Most impressively, second-season syndrome doesn't seem to be a thing for the teenager. There are huge expectations on Yamal now, but he just takes it in his stride.

Last weekend's goal in front of the Bernabéu, complete with an ice-cold celebration, just sums up everything you need to know about the youngster

Not only was he decisive, but he also carried out Hansi Flick's game plan brilliantly and worked hard to remain elusive against a Madrid defence that never got to grips with him and Raphinha down the flanks.

Five goals and six assists in 11 La Liga appearances is a stunning start considering the amount of eyeballs on him this campaign.

5. Mohamed Salah

An "off" season in which Mohamed Salah only contributed to 28 goals in the Premier League had the Egypt star nowhere to be seen in this year's vote.

His injury around the turn of the year slowed momentum considerably and he didn't hit form immediately upon his return.

Many were wondering if he may follow Jurgen Klopp out the door at Liverpool. How silly that looks now. Salah has stepped up since Arne Slot's arrival and is playing terrific football that has the Reds looking very good for a trophy this season.

Slot's extra emphasis on a little more control isn't limiting the 32-year-old at all.

We're seeing a precise Salah, whose smart passing and lethal finishing continue to rank him among the world's best. Slot immediately settling in isn't a usual occurrence, especially at big clubs that have said goodbye to a legend. Salah will be key to the former Feyenoord manager's terrific start continuing.

That is, of course, if he signs an extension at Liverpool. Salah is eligible to sign with another club on a free transfer. If he does stay an Anfield, his chances are decent to good to be considered for next year's award.

4. Harry Kane

A record-breaking season at Bayern Munich led Harry Kane to 10th place in this year's voting.

However, Bayern finishing 18 points below champions Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga all but ended his claim for individual glory, as did his struggling performances during England's run to the Euro 2024 final, a tournament in which he was unfit.

Last season's 44 goals and 12 assists across the German league and Champions League is a marker laid down. Kane won the Gerd Muller award alongside Mbappé on Monday, but it's time to finally add team trophies to his long list of individual triumphs. His 14 goals and four assists in 11 games is a hell of a way to start so far.

At 31 years old, it's incredible to think this man still hasn't lifted a single trophy after being this good for this long.

3. Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid showed poor form by not attending this year's ceremony when it was obvious Vinicius Junior had missed out on the top spot.

The Brazil international had a terrific year, but it's hard to suggest he deserved to topple Rodri, whose presence in Manchester City and Spain's midfield effectively led to an instant win whenever he was on the pitch.

Brazil's failure at the Copa América certainly didn't help Vinicius' hopes of taking the prize. How much say he had in avoiding the awards show is hard to determine, though.

What we do know is the 24-year-old should be right up there again come October 2025. His stunning hat-trick in the 5-2 mauling of Borussia Dortmund laid out everything you need to know about his game.

His directness often makes him unplayable. He also loves to slow play down, wait for the onrushing defender and then explode into life before weaving around opposition who just can't get close to him.

It'll be interesting to see how Vinicius' season progresses alongside Mbappé and Bellingham, three players who all want to be the main star in a Madrid team that needs to improve quickly.

2. Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland is probably a victim of his own success.

The 24-year-old didn't quite replicate his treble-winning numbers last season, even though he continued to score for fun. Rodri winning the Ballon d'Or ahead of his prolific team-mate underlines it isn't all about hitting the back of the net.

This is a man who, after two games without a goal, has many wondering if he's going through a crisis. Haaland's acrobatic finish in the recent 5-0 win over Sparta Prague was a brilliant way to hush detractors who are just making noise for the sake of it.

The Norway international has been the best striker in the world for a long time now, a player whose physicality and pace make him a unique prospect to try to stop.

It should be fully expected that Haaland wins the award at some point in his career, especially if City continue to rack up trophies for fun.

1. Robert Lewandowski

The man who was robbed when the Ballon d'Or was cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020.

Robert Lewandowski is currently the best match-winner in Europe's most in-form team. His quickfire double in the dismantling of Madrid was a timely reminder that you simply cannot give this man an inch of space.

The 36-year-old already has 17 goals across La Liga and the Champions League this season, leading the way in the race for the Golden Shoe. He is an irreplaceable player for Barcelona, someone who will leave a gaping chasm if he ever succumbs to injury.

Flick's setup ensures Yamal and Raphinha (who could be on this list) lay on regular chances for him from wide, while Pedri and the midfield also direct the ball his way from the middle, usually after creating space with their movement.

The Poland international is the perfect leader to provide the finish in a young team that has found its way and is building in confidence.

Should Barca take the domestic crown, or even challenge for the European title, all the injustice of Lewandowski missing out four years ago may finally be forgotten.