Former Spain international Marcos Senna names Real Madrid duo and PL star as his top 3 Ballon d'Or favorites

Former Spain midfielder Marcos Senna has named Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe among his top three picks for this year’s Ballon d’Or. The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony is fast approaching, with several names in contention for football’s most prestigious individual award.

Los Blancos have not started the season on a strong note, as they trail Barcelona by three points in La Liga, while their Champions League campaign has also been shaky.

After narrowly defeating Stuttgart in their opening match, Real Madrid suffered their first loss of the season to Lille on Wednesday, October 2, raising concerns for Carlo Ancelotti.

However, this season’s struggles do not overshadow their achievements last year. At the heart of Real Madrid's La Liga and Champions League triumphs was Vinicius, who, despite a below-par Copa America with Brazil, remains one of the favorites to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

Marcos Senna, a former European Championship winner with Spain, included the Brazilian winger in his top three for the Ballon d’Or, citing his consistency over the past few seasons.

Senna also named fellow Spaniard Rodri in his top three. The Manchester City star was notably instrumental in his club’s Premier League success and Spain’s victory at the Euros.

“Without a doubt, Vinicius would be in my top three candidates for best player in the world last season. It’s been a few very good seasons. I also put Rodri from Manchester City, who unfortunately has been injured," Senna said to Mundo Deportivo (via Yahoo).

Interestingly, Senna left Jude Bellingham out of his top three, opting instead for Kylian Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid this season. The Frenchman scored an impressive 44 goals for Paris Saint-Germain last season and has already made a strong start with his new club, netting seven goals in just nine games.

"The third one may attract attention but I would put Mbappe in. Because last year it’s true that he didn’t win anything really top, like a Champions League or the Euro, but he’s a player who enters for sure. It’s always differential,” Senna added.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place on October 28 in Paris. The competition for the award is expected to be a close battle between Rodri and Vinicius Junior while Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe are also strong contenders for a top-three finish.

Carlo Ancelotti voices concerns over Real Madrid’s form

While Real Madrid remain within striking distance of Barcelona in La Liga, they haven’t been at their best, with manager Carlo Ancelotti struggling to find the right balance in his team.

The loss to Lille exposed several of these issues, as Los Blancos struggled to create consistent chances and faced concerns defensively as well. Speaking about the performance, Ancelotti expressed his disappointment with his players, both in and out of possession.

"We did everything wrong: with the ball, in transition, intensity, we lost the duels. We have to look at things with a calm mind and not drop everything, but we have to improve. We struggled to generate and create. Possession was slow and we lacked ideas. We have forwards who need to play more directly than usual and if you play slowly it’s a problem,” he said (via the official Real Madrid website).

Ancelotti will be looking to turn his team’s form around in the upcoming game against Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday, October 5. After the international break, Los Blancos are set to face Celta Vigo, followed by two crucial matches - first against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and then against Barcelona in the league.