As far as the latest Ballon d’Or ceremony is concerned, well, it came as a surprise to the Arsenal fans. After all, the great year is gone, and none of them feature in the top ten but four players do feature in the rankings. Here’s how each of Arsenal‘s top performers placed in the Ballon d’Or rankings this year.
Martin Odegaard-19th
The highest-placed Gunner in the Ballon d’Or 2024 rankings was Martin Odegaard at 19. Arsenal’s captain, Odegaard, proved class in all aspects, pushing his team to a place that is closer than ever to achieving the title of Premier League.
Odegaard has received praise for his sportsmanship also. He is mature and, with technical skills on the pitch, he ensures that he is one of the most respected players in this game. His 19th place finish may seem minor, but it reflects his consistency and impact.
Bukayo Saka-21st
It was Arsenal’s “Star Boy” next, who secured 21st rank after this captain. Saka being so young has already engraved his name in the history books. Last season all due to his exceptional performances, Arsenal were so close to the PL title and England to the Euros.
Pretty undeniable is how Saka has contributed to the Gunner’s offense. He is always improving season on season, adding to his goal tally, and creating ample opportunities for himself. With his pace, agility, and goalscoring, Saka is a valuable asset for Arsenal. At 21 years old, Saka’s future can only look brighter, and these rankings are bound to be higher within the next few years.
William Saliba-24th
The Next is William Saliba, whom many consider to be the best center back in the world at the moment. He finished 24th in the ranking and was Arsenal’s third highest in the list. Saliba’s laid-back and measured approach to the game has got him his place in the pantheon of the world’s greatest. His level of performance last season is why Arsenal ended up only a whisker off winning the Premier League title.
One of the key qualities of Saliba is his nature to stay calm and composed in one on one situations. Apart from this he has speed and can make superb tackles when the attackers try a skillful dribble. Adding to this, he also had an injury free season last year which helped him to remain sustainable and consistent. All these together gave him that spot in the Ballon d’Or ranking which he should really be proud of.
Declan Rice-26th
Declan Rice is Arsenal’s other finisher in the Ballon d’Or list, ranked at 26th. It was certainly on the lips of everyone that Rice signed for Arsenal for the world record-breaking amount of £100 million, making him the most expensive player in the history of Arsenal. Since signing for Arsenal, Rice has been creating a storm and for good reason-the man is held in respect as one of the finest midfielders in the world.
What Arsenal has surely gained from Rice is his tenacious defensive prowess coupled with his capacity to manipulate the game’s rhythm. He has fast become a darling of the fans, especially for his hard work and commitment on the pitch. Anyways his 26th place finish does reflect much about his value to the Arsenal side and why is he placed in the list of the world’s best midfielders.
Conclusion
Although none of these stars broke into the top 10, but the presence in this Ballon d’Or ranking itself shows that Arsenal is really gaining respect on the world stage. Each player played an essential role in the recent success of Arsenal and, with a bit more team growth, soon may get through into higher rankings.
There is strength in the Arsenal group. Odegaard, Saka, Saliba, and Rice play to all different strengths, which have contributed hugely to where they are. They might not have won a thing last season, but with this team, the bright future is ahead for the club.
The Ballon d’Or rankings might still seem dominated by players from teams that have won major titles. Yet, Arsenal’s stars have shown they deserve recognition for their performances.
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