Ballon d’Or Nominees 2024 vs. 2004: A Nostalgic Bias or Fair Comparison?

How the 2004 Ballon d'Or Nominees Stack Up Against the 2024 Stars—Is It Fair, or Just Nostalgia?

I know I did a look back to the Summer of 2003 in the last newsletter but just by coincidence, 2004 came on my radar this week and it was something I wanted to explore.

The Ballon d’Or is football’s most prestigious individual award, recognizing the player who has consistently performed the best each year. This week, I noticed a few media outlets discussing how the 2004 Ballon d’Or nominees were far superior to this year’s, prompting a conversation about how we compare players across different eras. My instant reaction was in agreement because the 2004 nominees are, for the most part, legends of the modern game, but it did make me wonder: Are we simply letting nostalgia influence our perspective, or was the 2004 class genuinely a stronger group of footballing talent?

To explore this, I’ve taken a closer look at the nominees from both 2004 and 2024. This comparison made me think about whether, in 20 years, we will hold the 2024 nominees in the same regard as we do with the 2004 legends. Are we unfairly comparing players still in the midst of their careers to those whose legacies are already cemented?

The Icons of 2004

The 2004 Ballon d’Or nominee list is a who’s who of footballing legends, many of whom went on to define modern football. But as we reflect on these players today, it’s important to ask: are we really focusing on their performances in 2004, or are we thinking about their entire careers?

• Ronaldinho (24 years old): In 2004, Ronaldinho was already captivating the world with his dazzling performances for Barcelona. His creativity, flair, and joy on the pitch made him an immediate icon. While his peak was still ahead, this was the year that marked his true emergence as a global star.
• Thierry Henry (27 years old): Coming off Arsenal’s “Invincibles” season, Henry was in his prime in 2004. His speed, vision, and finishing made him one of the most feared forwards in world football. This was arguably his best individual season.
• Andriy Shevchenko (28 years old): The lethal AC Milan striker capped off his stellar 2004 season with the Ballon d’Or. His clinical finishing, tactical awareness, and leadership made him the complete forward, and at 28, he was right at the peak of his powers.
• Pavel Nedvěd (32 years old): Nedvěd, who won the 2003 Ballon d’Or, was still a driving force for Juventus in 2004. A tireless midfielder with a thunderous shot and tactical intelligence, he was one of the game’s most influential players, even in the later stages of his career.
• Zinedine Zidane (32 years old): Zidane was already a living legend by 2004. While his performances that year didn’t match his younger counterparts, his reputation as one of the greatest midfielders ever meant he was still a giant in the game.

Other notable 2004 Ballon d’Or nominees:

• Deco (Portugal, Porto, Barcelona)
• Adriano (Brazil, Parma, Inter)
• Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus)
• Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands, Manchester United)
• Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, Mallorca, Barcelona)
• Luis Figo (Portugal, Real Madrid)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Manchester United) – (19 years old)
• Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea)
• Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal, Porto, Chelsea)
• Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United) (19 years old)
• Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden, Ajax, Juventus)
• Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Marseille, Chelsea)

I think we can all agree, that was some year!

At the time, many of these players were either at or approaching their peaks, with a few, like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, only just beginning their journeys. Today, it’s difficult to think of these players without considering everything they went on to achieve in the years that followed. This retrospective view might be affecting how we perceive their greatness compared to more recent players.

The Rising Stars of 2024

Fast forward to 2024, and we see a new generation of footballers rising to global prominence. While some are already established as world-class talents, many of them are still building their legacies. When comparing them to the 2004 nominees, it’s worth remembering that these players are still writing their stories.

• Kylian Mbappé (25 years old): Mbappé has already achieved a World Cup victory and multiple domestic titles with PSG. At just 25, he’s already one of the top players in the world, but his best years likely still lie ahead of him.
• Erling Haaland (24 years old): Haaland is redefining what it means to be a striker with his sheer physicality and goal-scoring prowess. Though only 24, he has already smashed numerous records, and his future looks incredibly bright.
• Vinícius Júnior (24 years old): As one of Real Madrid’s most dynamic players, Vinícius has shown immense skill and creativity. His ability to take on defenders with ease has made him a key player, but he still has a long way to go to reach his full potential.
• Jude Bellingham (21 years old): Bellingham’s maturity and leadership on the pitch make it hard to believe he’s only 21. Already a linchpin in Real Madrid and England’s midfield, his future is as bright as anyone’s, and he’s likely just scratching the surface of his potential.
• Rodri (27 years old): The unsung hero of Manchester City’s success, Rodri controls the tempo of games and dictates the midfield with incredible precision. At 27, he’s at the peak of his powers and is one of the best midfielders in the game today.

Full List of 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees:

• Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Turkey, Inter)
• Dani Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid)
• Rúben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City)
• Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine, Dnipro / Girona / Roma)
• Phil Foden (England, Manchester City)
• Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain, Bayer Leverkusen)
• Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund)
• Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
• Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid)
• Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atalanta)
• Emiliano Martínez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
• Lautaro Martínez (Argentina, Inter )
• Martin Ødegaard (Norway, Arsenal)
• Dani Olmo (Spain, Leipzig / Barcelona)
• Cole Palmer (England, Manchester City / Chelsea)
• Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
• Antonio Rüdiger (Germany, Real Madrid)
• Bukayo Saka (England, Arsenal)
• William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
• Federico Valverde (Uruguay, Real Madrid)
• Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Nico Williams (Spain, Athletic Club)
• Florian Wirtz (Germany, Bayer Leverkusen)
• Granit Xhaka (Switzerland, Bayer Leverkusen)
• Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)

The 2024 group is generally younger than their 2004 counterparts, with an average age of 25.68 compared to 29 for the 2004 list. This reflects the fact that many of the 2024 nominees are now approaching their peak era, making it more difficult to judge them fairly against players who were already peaking.

Personal Reflection: A Different Feeling

As someone who witnessed both eras, I can’t help but lean towards the 2004 nominees being superior. The likes of Ronaldinho, Henry, and Zidane seemed to define football in a way that felt monumental. There was something about that era that carried a different weight, a sense of magic that feels hard to replicate today.

But I also acknowledge that this may be the romance of nostalgia speaking. When comparing the two groups, it’s easy to let the full careers of the 2004 nominees cloud my judgment. I’m not just remembering their performances in 2004—I’m no doubt subconsciously thinking about all that they achieved across a career. Meanwhile, with players like Vinícius and Bellingham, we’re only focusing on their most recent seasons, forgetting that they still have time to build legendary careers, and they’ve started pretty strong.

Beyond this, the game itself has changed. Back in the early 2000s, creative players seemed to have more freedom to express themselves on the pitch. The game was less rigid, with teams often relying on moments of improvisation to break down defences. We saw more opportunistic balls through the lines or over the top when teams couldn’t find a way through, leading to moments of spontaneous creativity and flair.

Players like Ronaldinho thrived in this environment, where creativity wasn’t just encouraged—it was celebrated. Today, with the rise of possession-based football, tactical systems are more rigid, and there’s less room for players to improvise. We see more backward passes and resets when a defence can’t be broken down. The modern game, while advanced in many ways, may unintentionally stifle the kind of individual brilliance that was more common in the past.

Of course, there are exceptions—Mbappé, Vinícius, and Bellingham are still incredibly creative within these systems. But I can’t help but wonder: if the game were a little more open like it was in the early 2000s, would we view today’s players in the same light as we do the stars of 2004?

As we compare the 2004 and 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees, it’s important to question whether we’re being fair to the current generation of players. The 2004 class undoubtedly produced legends, but are we viewing them through the lens of their entire careers rather than their performances in that specific year? Meanwhile, the 2024 players are still in the process of building their legacies.

Looking back, 2004 feels like a golden era, but how will we feel in 20 years? Will Mbappé, Haaland, and Bellingham be remembered as giants of the game, just as we now view Ronaldinho, Henry, and Zidane? Or is there something about 2004 that truly made it special? Only time will tell, but perhaps in a few decades, we’ll be able to look back at both eras with a more balanced perspective.

Either way, the talent pools in both years are stacked and I’m looking forward to what we might see from this current crop of young stars, hopefully, they leave a mark in history like the class of 2004.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place on October 28th in Paris.

Thanks for reading, David Skilling

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