Hello all, welcome back to the blog. The Bob and Jim awards are awards which we do every year, and these are the 3rd annual edition of them. We will see some of the most prestigious awards in the footballing sphere, including the Mo Salah award for breakout player, Bela Guttman award for best manager, Casillas Award for best goalkeeper, Di Stefano Award for best young player, and who can forget the Sheffield FC Award for best overall player? Let’s get into the finalists.
Mo Salah Award
This Award goes to the player who had the biggest breakout season, since the start of the 23/24 season. This award is named in honor of Mohamed Salah, and his breakout 17/18 season with Liverpool.
Current Holder: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Finalists:
Cole Palmer
Aleksandar Pavlovic
Denis Adingra
Albert Gudmundsson
Joshua Zirkzee
Serhou Guirassy
Savio
Aleix Garcia
Viktor Gyokeres
Samu Omorodion
Lamine Yamal
Pau Cubarsi
Fermin Lopez
Riccardo Calafiori
Adam Wharton
Bela Guttman Award
The Bela Guttman Award is the award which goes to the best manager of the 2023/24 season. The managers that inspired their teams to greatness, either through trophies or high finishes. The award was named after one of the best and most underrated managers in history, Bela Guttman.
Current Holder: Pep Guardiola
Finalists:
Carlo Ancelotti
Xabi Alonso
Gian Piero Gasparini
Lionel Scaloni
Luis de la Fuente
Simone Inzaghi
Thiago Motta
Michel
Unai Emery
Nestor Lorenzo
Sebastian Hoeness
Pep Guardiola
Edin Terzic
Mikel Arteta
Luis Enrique
Casillas Award
The Casillas Award is the award going to the best goalkeeper of the 23/24 season. This award is the one to recognize the best goalkeepers in the world. It’s named after Iker Casillas, who is arguably the best goalkeeper of all time.
Current Holder: Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Finalists:
Andriy Lunin
Ederson
David Raya
Emiliano Martinez
Unai Simon
Gregor Kobel
Jordan Pickford
Maxime Crepeau
Giorgi Mamardashvili
Alexander Nubel
Di Stefano Award
The Di Stefano award is the award to recognize the best 19-and-under footballer of the 2023/24 season. The award is named after Alfredo Di Stefano, one of the original wonderkids from his days at Millonarios, where he scored 90 goals in 101 matches.
Current Holder: Alejandro Balde
Finalists:
Lamine Yamal
Pau Cubarsi
Warren Zaire-Emery
Joao Neves
Kobbie Mainoo
Leny Yoro
Endrick
Kenan Yildiz
Estevao Willian
Arda Guler
Mathys Tel
Jorrel Hato
Claudio Echeverri
Guillaume Restes
Desire Doue
Sheffield FC Award
The Sheffield FC Award is the cream of the crop when it comes to awards in this post. It will go to the best player overall over the course of the 2023/24 season. There’s more finalists, and is the main reason for this post. The award is named after Sheffield FC, as it’s the oldest club in history, and is never talked about, so needs recognition.
Current Holder: Lionel Messi
Finalists:
Rodri
Jude Bellingham
Vinicius Jr.
Lamine Yamal
Dani Carvajal
Kylian Mbappe
Erling Haaland
Toni Kroos
Phil Foden
Nico Williams
Dani Olmo
Declan Rice
Serhou Guirassy
Alejandro Grimaldo
Kevin de Bruyne
Harry Kane
Phil Foden
Antonio Rudiger
Florian Wirtz
William Saliba
Lionel Messi
Jamal Musiala
Bukayo Saka
Rodrygo
Lautaro Martinez
Viktor Gyokeres
Without Further Ado, let’s go through the awards! Sidenote: I will only be doing bios for the top 5.
Mo Salah Award
- Denis Adingra
Team: Brighton
Nationality: Cote D’Iviore
Position: RW
Age: 22
Stats in 23/24:
52 games
9 goals
5 assists
Trophies in 23/24:
AFCON (Cote D’Iviore)
14: Samu Omorodion
Team: Alaves (On loan from Atleti)
Nationality: Spain
Position: ST
Age: 20
Stats in 23/24
36 games
9 goals
1 assist
13: Aleksandar Pavlovic
Team: Bayern Munich
Nationality: Germany
Position: DM
Age: 20
Stats in 23/24
25 games
2 goals
2 assists
12: Aleix Garcia
Team: Girona (Now Leverkusen)
Nationality: Spain
Position: CM
Age: 27
Stats in 23/24
42 games
3 goals
6 assists
11: Joshua Zirkzee
Team: Bologna (Now Man Utd)
Nationality: Netherlands
Position: ST
Age: 23
Stats in 23/24
39 games
12 goals
7 assists
10: Pau Cubarsi
Team: Barcelona
Nationality: Spain
Position: CB
Age: 17
Stats in 23/24
24 games
0 goals
1 assist
9: Albert Gudmundsson
Team: Genoa
Nationality: Iceland
Position: ST
Age: 27
Stats in 23/24
37 games
16 goals
5 assists
8: Fermin Lopez
Team: Barcelona
Nationality: Spain
Position: CM
Age: 21
Stats in 23/24
42 games
11 goals
1 assist
Trophies in 23/24
Euros (Spain)
7: Riccardo Calafiori
Team: Bologna
Nationality: Italy
Position: CB
Age: 22
Stats in 23/24:
37 games
2 goals
5 assists
6: Adam Wharton
Team: Blackburn/Crystal Palace
Nationality: England
Position: DM
Age: 20
Stats in 23/24
45 games
2 goals
6 assists
5: Savio
Team: Girona (On loan from Troyes)
Nationality: Brazil
Position: RW
Age: 20
Stats in 23/24
41 games
11 goals
10 assists
The 2022 City group signing looked underwhelming and potentially a flop after a bad year at PSV in 22/23, but a loan to Girona in 23/24 has changed everything about his career. An incredibly quick chance creator and menace on the flanks, Savio’s year saw much interest across Europe, but it appears that he’ll end up at the head of the City group for 24/25, Man City.
4: Viktor Gyokeres
Team: Sporting
Nationality: Sweden
Position: ST
Age: 26
Stats in 23/24
50 games
43 goals
15 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Liga Portugal (Sporting)
Despite his breakthrough in 22/23 with Coventry, Viktor Gyokeres has taken his game to another level in 2023/24. He’s definitely put himself among the best in the world, and definitely needs a big move to a major league. He could, for sure, become a Haaland type talent and somehow find his name on this list AGAIN in 2025.
3: Serhou Guirassy
Team: Stuttgart
Nationality: Guinea
Position: ST
Age: 28
Stats in 23/24
30 games
30 goals
3 assists
The catalyst in a Stuttgart season which surpassed all expectations, Serhou Guirassy was a footballer really only known by local fans of his clubs and some experienced football fans. However, he’s joined the mainstream Bundesliga and football conversations, and was the leading player in a Stuttgart season in which they finished above Bayern. What a player.
2: Cole Palmer
Team: Chelsea
Nationality: England
Position: AM
Age: 22
Stats in 23/24
57 games
29 goals
16 assists
While I know that many fans think that Cole Palmer should be number one, I think the number one has done just a little more and had a slightly more meteoric rise this year. However, Cole Palmer has been incredible, surpassed my expectations, so fair play to him. He went from a Man City substitute to scoring in the Euros final inside a year, definitely could be one of Man City and Pep Guardiola’s biggest slip ups.
1: Lamine Yamal
Team: Barcelona
Nationality: Spain
Position: RW
Age: 16
Stats in 23/24
65 games
10 goals
18 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Euros (Spain)
This guy is the definition of a breakout player. At the age of SIXTEEN, he’s been in the starting XI for most games for Barcelona, and he’s now regarded as the player with the highest potential in football. He’s made three finalist lists, and has already won one award. Absolutely incredible player.
Bela Guttman Award
15: Luis Enrique
Team: PSG
Nationality: Spain
Age: 54
Trophies in 23/24
Ligue 1
Coupe de France
Trophee des Champions
14: Nestor Lorenzo
Team: Colombia
Nationality: Argentina
Age: 58
13: Mikel Arteta
Team: Arsenal
Nationality: Spain
Age: 42
12: Sebastian Hoeness
Team: Stuttgart
Nationality: Germany
Age: 42
11: Lionel Scaloni
Team: Argentina
Nationality: Argentina
Age: 46
Trophies in 23/24
Copa America
10: Simone Inzaghi
Team: Inter
Nationality: Italy
Age: 48
Trophies in 23/24
Serie A
Supercoppa Italiana
9: Gian Piero Gasparini
Team: Atalanta
Nationality: Italy
Age: 66
Trophies in 23/24
Europa League
8: Pep Guardiola
Team: Man City
Nationality: Spain
Age: 53
7: Michel
Team: Girona
Nationality: Spain
Age: 48
6: Thiago Motta
Team: Bologna (Now Juventus)
Nationality: Italy
Age: 41
5: Edin Terzic
Team: Dortmund (Now Unemployed)
Nationality: German
Age: 41
Despite his current unemployed status, don’t let Edin Terzic fool you – what he did with this Dortmund team in the Champions League cannot be understated. While a 5th place league finish was disappointing, Dortmund surpassed all expectations by winning the group of death over PSG, Milan, and Newcastle, beating PSV in the round of 16, Atleti in the Quarters, and PSG again in the semifinals, to lose to a dominant Real Madrid in the final. What a run.
4: Unai Emery
Team: Aston Villa
Nationality: Spain
Age: 52
You gotta love a good redemption. 5 years ago, Unai Emery was considered a laughing stock of English Football after underperforming with a terrible Arsenal squad featuring either former stars, players who’d come good later on, or players who simply weren’t good enough. Now, he’s brought Aston Villa to the Champions League, against all odds, and has potentially secured the club the money needed to finally secure themselves a spot amongst the cream of the Premier League crop. What a season.
3: Luis de la Fuente
Team: Spain
Nationality: Spain
Age: 63
Trophies in 23/24
Euros
When Spain hired Luis de la Fuente to replace Luis Enrique back after the 2022 World Cup, eyebrows were raised. With many seemingly superior candidates on the board, why pick this man? Now we know why. Despite only having 11 matches of senior management under his belt, de la Fuente has proven his worth by managing Spain to their first piece of major silverware since the glory days of the late 2000s and early 2010s, by playing a style of football which comes easy to watch for the eyes, and saw them dominate and win all 7 matches at the tournament, with 6 of those wins coming in 90 minutes.
2: Carlo Ancelotti
Team: Real Madrid
Nationality: Italy
Age: 65
Trophies in 23/24
Champions League
La Liga
Supercopa
Carlo Ancelotti has now found himself back in the discussions for the best manager of the modern era, with names like Mourinho, Pep, and Klopp, after disappointing spells with Bayern, Napoli, and Everton filled the gap between Real Madrid stints. He seems to have a magic of sorts in the Champions League, and it doesn’t seem to want to slow down anytime soon with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe to the Bernabeu. I’d be surprised if his name wasn’t near the very top of this list once again in 2025.
1: Xabi Alonso
Team: Bayer Leverkusen
Nationality: Spain
Age: 42
Trophies in 23/24
Bundesliga
DFB Pokal
Despite Ancelotti’s dominance, there was only ever going to be one man to top this list. Xabi Alonso, the man who saw an unassuming Leverkusen side accomplish the light feat of having the longest unbeaten streak in the history of European football. The streak, lasting 51 matches in all competitions, saw that Leverkusen side immortalized in the annals of European history. With interest coming in from all over the world, with Real Madrid, Bayern, and Liverpool all willing to let go of their managers in a heartbeat to acquire Alonso, the Spaniard wants to see out Leverkusen’s unbeaten run in Germany, which has also gone a record-breaking 40 matches so far across the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal.
Casillas Award
10: Maxime Crepeau
Team: Portland Timbers
Nationality: Canada
Age: 30
9: Jordan Pickford
Team: Everton
Nationality: England
Age: 30
8: Alexander Nubel
Team: Stuttgart
Nationality: Germany
Age: 27
7: Giorgi Mamardashvili
Team: Valencia
Nationality: Georgia
Age: 23
6: Ederson
Team: Man City
Nationality: Brazil
Age: 30
5: Emiliano Martinez
Team: Aston Villa
Nationality: Argentina
Age: 31
Retaining his #5 spot from last season, Emiliano Martinez has definitely now become among the best goalkeepers in the world officially, and with his brilliant performances for Argentina, and now shot-stopping Aston Villa to the Champions League, will likely be remembered as one of the faces of the goalkeeper position in the 2020s era.
4: David Raya
Team: Arsenal
Nationality: Spain
Age: 28
Being the Premier League’s golden glove winner, David Raya deserved some recognition of some sort on this list. After being a head-scratching arrival to Arsenal as it already seemed that Aaron Ramsdale had the #1 spot locked down and was one of the best in the league, Raya came out of nowhere and absolutely stole the show. Sadly, he was given a taste of what Ramsdale felt after still being chosen #2 for Spain at the Euros for Unai Simon, who we’ll get to later.
3: Andriy Lunin
Team: Real Madrid
Nationality: Ukraine
Age: 25
After perhaps the best goalkeeper in the world, Thibault Courtois, tore his ACL and saw the majority of his season ended, it seemed like Real Madrid were doomed, especially combined with their loss of Karim Benzema earlier that summer, and replacing them both with Joselu and Kepa. However, Andriy Lunin just stepped in and saved the day, spectacularly being in goal to see Real Madrid win La Liga and the Champions League. However, it’s still clear that even after that season, he’ll be a #2 in Ancelotti’s plans, so a move to a club where he can be appreciated should happen if he wants to benefit from this season.
2: Unai Simon
Team: Bilbao
Nationality: Spain
Age: 27
Most football fans barely knew who Unai Simon was before the start of the season. However, do we ever know about him now. Being the #1 for Bilbao and Spain as Bilbao went and lifted the Copa del Rey and Spain lifted the Euros, as well as having a case as La Liga’s best performing goalkeeper this season cannot quite be considered a step back in your career.
1: Gregor Kobel
Team: Dortmund
Nationality: Switzerland
Age: 26
There was still one goalkeeper who, in my opinion, deserves #1 more than anyone else. Despite being Switzerland’s second choice for the Euros, Gregor Kobel was incredible, and likely the main reason behind Dortmund’s miracle CL final run. He had incredible performances in every stage, and if not for him, Dortmund would likely have finished in a Europa League spot.
Di Stefano Award
15: Estevao Willian “Messinho”
Team: Palmeiras (Joining Chelsea in July 2025)
Nationality: Brazil
Age: 17
Position: RW
Stats in 23/24
33 matches
11 goals
7 assists
14: Claudio Echeverri
Team: River Plate (Joining Man City in January 2025)
Nationality: Argentina
Age: 18
Position: AM
Stats in 23/24
22 matches
3 goals
3 assists
13: Guillaume Restes
Team: Toulouse
Nationality: France
Age: 19
Position: GK
Stats in 23/24
43 games
59 conceded
9 clean sheets
12: Jorrel Hato
Team: Ajax
Nationality: Netherlands
Age: 18
Position: CB
Stats in 23/24
46 games
1 goal
3 assists
11: Mathys Tel
Team: Bayern
Nationality: France
Age: 19
Position: LW
Stats in 23/24
41 games
10 goals
6 assists
10: Desire Doue
Team: Rennes
Nationality: France
Age: 19
Position: LW
Stats in 23/24
43 games
4 goals
6 assists
9: Kenan Yildiz
Team: Juventus
Nationality: Turkiye
Age: 19
Position: ST
Stats in 23/24
39 games
6 goals
2 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Coppa Italia
8: Endrick
Team: Palmeiras (Now Real Madrid)
Nationality: Brazil
Age: 17
Position: ST
Stats in 2024
22 games
4 goals
2 assists
7: Arda Guler
Team: Real Madrid
Nationality: Turkiye
Age: 19
Position: RW
Stats in 23/24
20 games
7 goals
2 assists
Trophies in 23/24
La Liga
Champions League
Supercopa
6: Joao Neves
Team: Benfica
Nationality: Portugal
Age: 19
Position: CM
Stats in 23/24
55 games
3 goals
2 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Supertaca
5: Leny Yoro
Team: Lille
Nationality: France
Age: 18
Position: CB
Stats in 23/24
44 games
3 goals
0 assists
Leny Yoro burst onto the scene back in early 2023, and ever since has looked like a rock at the back for Lille. Although he has had some moments of poor judgement normal for a young defender, Yoro has largely looked like a future mainstay of the France defence, and it’s made the ever present eyes of Florentino Perez notice.
4: Pau Cubarsi
Team: Barcelona
Nationality: Spain
Age: 17
Position: CB
Stats in 23/24
24 games
0 goals
1 assist
From Yoro to the center back who may be his foil in the next generation of El Clasicos, the future Pique to Yoro’s Ramos, it’s Pau Cubarsi, who found the spotlight in nearly as frivolous a manner as Yoro back in January. Cubarsi made his debut for the Blaugrana back in mid-January, in the second half of a 3-1 win against third-tier Unionistas, Cubarsi was winning Champions League MOTM awards within two months, making ankle-crunching tackles on Kylian Mbappe, and was inches away from making Spain’s Euro-winning squad.
3: Warren Zaire-Emery
Team: PSG
Nationality: France
Age: 18
Position: CM
Stats in 23/24
43 games
3 goals
7 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Ligue 1
Trophee des Champions
Coupe de France
Perhaps the first PSG academy product who could become world class and not be thrown away by the club, Warren Zaire-Emery has completed his second senior season, and looks even more impressive than his first. From saving Les Parisiens’ skin in the group stage against Dortmund to facilitating everything in the PSG midfield when being used, the ceiling for Zaire-Emery is limitless.
2: Kobbie Mainoo
Team: Man Utd
Nationality: England
Age: 19
Position: DM
Stats in 23/24
35 games
5 goals
3 assists
Trophies in 23/24
FA Cup
Kobbie Mainoo and the number one on this list were truly in leagues of their own when it came to this list. From being relatively unknown to starting a Euros final and being the hope of one of the biggest fanbases in the world, Kobbie Mainoo’s world has shifted a lot in the past year. Most years, this rise would definitely see him #1 on this list, but he’s just pipped to it this year by a generational talent.
1: Lamine Yamal
Team: Barcelona
Nationality: Spain
Age: 16
Position: RW
Stats in 23/24
65 games
10 goals
18 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Euros (Spain)
Yep. Once again, we see Lamine Yamal win some silverware, for the second time this evening. There’s simply no denying, however, that Yamal is simply the best wonderkid on the planet, and has taken over world football at 16 years of age. The sky is truly the limit for this teenager, and by the time he’s no longer eligible for this list (in 2028), we could have seen him win a Sheffield FC Award.
Sheffield FC Award
25: Serhou Guirassy
Team: Stuttgart
Nationality: Guinea
Position: ST
Age: 28
Stats in 23/24
30 games
30 goals
3 assists
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
24: Viktor Gyokeres
Team: Sporting
Nationality: Sweden
Position: ST
Age: 26
Stats in 23/24
50 games
43 goals
15 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Liga Portugal (Sporting)
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
23: Rodrygo
Team: Real Madrid
Nationality: Brazil
Position: RW
Age: 23
Stats in 23/24
51 games
17 goals
9 assists
Trophies in 23/24
La Liga
Champions League
Supercopa
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
22: Alejandro Grimaldo
Team: Leverkusen
Nationality: Spain
Position: LM
Age: 28
Stats in 23/24
51 games
12 goals
20 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Bundesliga
DFB Pokal
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
21: Lionel Messi
Team: Inter Miami
Nationality: Argentina
Position: RW
Age: 37
Stats in 23/24
28 games
25 goals
14 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Copa America
Leagues Cup
2023 Rank: 1st (-20)
20: Nico Williams
Team: Bilbao
Nationality: Spain
Position: LW
Age: 22
Stats in 23/24
43 games
10 goals
20 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Euros
Copa del Rey
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
19: Harry Kane
Team: Bayern
Nationality: England
Position: ST
Age: 32
Stats in 23/24
51 games
48 goals
12 assists
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
18: Bukayo Saka
Team: Arsenal
Nationality: England
Position: RW
Age: 22
Stats in 23/24
53 games
21 goals
14 assists
2023 Rank: 6th (-12)
17: Kevin de Bruyne
Team: Man City
Nationality: Belgium
Position: AM
Age: 33
Stats in 23/24
30 games
7 goals
18 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Premier League
2023 Rank: 3rd (-14)
16: Declan Rice
Team: Arsenal
Nationality: England
Position: DM
Age: 25
Stats in 23/24
58 games
7 goals
11 assists
2023 Rank: 23rd (+7)
15: Lautaro Martinez
Team: Inter
Nationality: Argentina
Position: ST
Age: 26
Stats in 23/24
50 games
32 goals
7 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Copa America
Serie A
Supercoppa Italiana
2023 Rank: 15th (+0)
14: Jamal Musiala
Team: Bayern
Nationality: Germany
Position: AM
Age: 21
Stats in 23/24
43 games
15 goals
8 assists
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
13: Antonio Rudiger
Team: Real Madrid
Nationality: Germany
Position: CB
Age: 31
Stats in 23/24
53 games
2 goals
3 assists
Trophies in 23/24
La Liga
Champions League
Supercopa
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
12: Erling Haaland
Team: Man City
Nationality: Norway
Position: ST
Age: 23
Stats in 23/24
45 games
38 goals
6 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Premier League
2023 Rank: 2nd (-10)
11: Dani Olmo
Team: RB Leipzig
Nationality: Spain
Position: AM
Age: 26
Stats in 23/24
31 games
11 goals
7 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Euros
German Supercup
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
10: Lamine Yamal
Team: Barcelona
Nationality: Spain
Age: 16
Position: RW
Stats in 23/24
65 games
10 goals
18 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Euros
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
Again and again, we talk about this young man. While he may not be the one who walks home with the coveted Sheffield FC Award, He may just be the main man of this entire awards show anyways. While not even a 17 or 18 year old has made this list before, Yamal has made it into the top 10 at 16. The world truly is his.
9: William Saliba
Team: Arsenal
Nationality: France
Age: 23
Position: CB
Stats in 23/24
56 games
2 goals
1 assist
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
It truly puzzles me as to how I didn’t rank William Saliba in the Sheffield FC nominee list last year, as he was then and now is even more so one of the best defenders in world football. Leading the back line in an Arsenal team mere points from the top of the Premier League, and a France side which was a Lamine Yamal screamer and awful defensive error (not by Saliba) away from the final. He’s made up for it this year, however, and does he ever deserve it.
8: Phil Foden
Team: Man City
Nationality: England
Age: 24
Position: LW
Stats in 23/24
61 games
27 games
12 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Premier League
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
Despite a disappointing Euros performance if we’re being honest, Phil Foden still rightly deserves a spot in the top 10 of this list. While if he had got a few goal contributions and if the Mikel Oyarzabal winner in the 86th minute had been scored by him for England instead, he may have got into the top 5, Foden still has nothing to be ashamed of this season. Great performances by him this season.
7: Toni Kroos
Team: Real Madrid (Now Retired)
Nationality: Germany
Age: 34
Position: CM
Stats in 23/24
53 games
1 goal
10 assists
Trophies in 23/24
La Liga
Champions League
Supercopa
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
Truly a great way to finish a career, in my opinion. Toni Kroos lived the dream at Real Madrid, winning 5 Champions Leagues, 4 La Ligas, and plenty of silverware. He was a midfield maestro, don’t let the goal contributions fool you, and is pretty much as close as you can get to the perfect ending in this sport, retiring on a Champions League and still at a high level. Thank you, Toni Kroos.
6: Dani Carvajal
Team: Real Madrid
Nationality: Spain
Age: 32
Position: RB
Stats in 23/24
46 games
7 goals
5 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Euros
La Liga
Champions League
Supercopa
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
Without meaning any disrespect, Dani Carvajal is definitely this year’s version of 2021 Jorginho. While he was a solid contributor in the teams that won the Champions League and Euros, if he’d played for, say, Atlético and Belgium, he’d be nowhere near the top 25. He was still a great contributor, though, and played a big role in both sides.
5: Florian Wirtz
Team: Leverkusen
Nationality: Germany
Age: 21
Position: AM
Stats in 23/24
54 games
20 goals
20 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Bundesliga
DFB Pokal
2023 Rank: Not Ranked
If you thought we forgot Leverkusen and didn’t have enough representation from them, think again. The crown jewel of this Leverkusen side and player of the season in the Bundesliga wins the 5th spot on this list. He was literally everywhere last season, and without him, this Leverkusen side would have been a shell of their unflappable selves this season.
4: Kylian Mbappe
Team: PSG (Now Real Madrid)
Nationality: France
Age: 25
Position: ST
Stats in 23/24
53 games
45 goals
12 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Ligue 1
Coupe de France
Trophee des Champions
2023 Rank: #4 (+0)
There you go, have all the guys in the top 10 play for Real Madrid, and then sign the non-Madrid player. Kylian Mbappe, after another great season in 23/24, has finally escaped the confines of PSG and Ligue 1, and can finally show his stuff on a weekly basis for an audience who will finally watch him regularly. This was the move he needed to truly become one of the best of this generation, and he did it. Good job.
3: Vinicius Jr.
Team: Real Madrid
Nationality: Brazil
Age: 23
Position: LW
Stats in 23/24
42 games
26 goals
11 assists
Trophies in 23/24
La Liga
Champions League
Supercopa
2023 Rank: 5th (+2)
The top three of this list was pretty cut and dry in my eyes, and the third place was, as well. Vinicius Jr, while having a pretty good case for this award before the international tournaments, really lost it over the Copa America, playing three games, scoring in only one, and watching on from the stands, suspended, as Brazil lost to Uruguay on penalties. Still an astonishing season from him, though.
2: Jude Bellingham
Team: Real Madrid
Nationality: England
Age: 21
Position: AM
Stats in 23/24
49 games
25 goals
14 assists
Trophies in 23/24
La Liga
Champions League
Supercopa
2023 Rank: 22nd (+20)
Who would have expected this when the season started? Jude Bellingham, starting to become the face of the sport in the modern era, Having an absolute monster of a season and jumping up 20 spots to second on this list. There are reasonable arguments for him to be first, but to me, He just didn’t make enough of a difference in the truly major games to put him above my #1 spot.
1: Rodri
Team: Man City
Nationality: Spain
Age: 28
Position: DM
Stats in 23/24
56 games
10 goals
14 assists
Trophies in 23/24
Euros
Premier League
2023 Rank: 13th (+12)
Yes, you see that correctly. In a list made up of 28% Real Madrid players, 5 of them in the top 7, the winner ends up being a Man City player. Well, Rodri just squeaked by Jude Bellingham by a hair, to join Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi in the elite club of players to win this prestigious trophy. The former Villarreal man just had the perfect combo of being there all the time, and having a major impact on both Man City and Spain, as well as winning two of the most prestigious trophies out there to win, with both club and country, is enough to engrave his name on the trophy.
Well, that’s all for the 2023/24 Bob and Jim Awards, the Ballon D’Or ceremony 3 months before the Ballon D’Or ceremony. I hope you all enjoyed it this year, it still feels like yesterday, though, that I wrote the last one, and this is also the first one of the three that I didn’t completely procrastinate through. For now though, I’m Jim James, until next time!