The nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or have been announced, and there are very few surprises on the women’s Top 30. Two Brazilian women and one Colombian make up the names from our communities on the women’s side. And though we would love to see the game advance to a point where there are more Latinas on the list, the names on the list are still worthy of celebration.
Brazilians Gabi Portilho and Tarciane are joined by Colombian Mayra Ramírez in the Top 30.
Portilho, a forward for both Corinthians in the Brazilian league and the Brazil national team, was part of the team who just won silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Portilho wasn’t the only one, her teammate Tarciane, who plays for the Houston Dash and the Brazilian national team was also part of that silver medalist team at the 2024 Olympics and is now in the Top 30 for the Ballon d’Or.
Rounding out the Top 30 is Colombia’s Mayra Ramírez, who plays for a big club – Chelsea. Ramírez has been integral in Colombia’s growth in the last few years, growth that saw the team just lose by penalty kicks during the quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics to 2023 Women’s World Cup winners in Spain.
The winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or was Spaniard Aitana Bonmatí, coming off Spain’s World Cup win in 2023.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or gala will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.