The forward of the Ukrainian national team was among the contenders for the title of the best footballer in the world.
Forward of the Italian “Roma” and the Ukrainian national team Artem Dovbyk took 29th place in the voting for the “Golden Ball-2024”.
This was reported on the official page of the ceremony on the social network X.
The 27-year-old Ukrainian striker shared 29th place with his current teammate, German Roma defender Mats Hummels, who played for Borussia Dortmund last season.
Well retired in 29th place for the 2024 Men's Ballon d'Or!
Artem Dovbyk @officialasroma @uafukraine #ballondor pic.twitter.com/IxW2u3hVvM
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
The Golden Ball award ceremony will take place on Monday, October 28, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The gala event will begin at 20:00 Kyiv time.
Last season, Dovbyk scored 24 goals and made 8 assists in 36 matches in the Spanish championship as part of the Spanish team Girona. He became the top scorer in La Liga and also finished as the leader in the goal plus assist system.
It should be noted that the only winner of the Golden Ball in the history of independent Ukraine is Andriy Shevchenko, who was recognized as the best footballer in the world in 2004.
The last time Shevchenko was nominated for this award was in 2006, so Dovbyk became the first Ukrainian in the last 18 years to be included in the list of contenders for the honorary prize.
Recall that the current winner of the Golden Ball is Inter Miami and Argentina national team forward Lionel Messi.
Messi holds the absolute record for the number of Golden Balls won – he received this prize eight times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023).
The Argentine's closest pursuer is Al-Nassr and Portugal national team forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who was recognized as the best footballer in the world five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017).