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Ukrainian Forward Artem Dovbyk Becomes First Ukrainian Player in 18 Years Nominated for Ballon d’Or

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Ivan_khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
AUTHOR
Ukrainian Forward Artem Dovbyk Becomes First Ukrainian Player in 18 Years Nominated for Ballon d’Or
Artem Dovbyk, Ukrainian footballer and forward for AS Roma, applauds during the Serie A Enilive match against Venezia FC at Stadio Olimpico on September 29, 2024, in Rome, Italy. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk has earned a shared 29th place in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, alongside his AS Roma teammate, German defender Mats Hummels.

The prestigious annual award, organized by France Football, acknowledges the world’s top 30 footballers, based on votes from international journalists. This year, Dovbyk became the first Ukrainian player in 18 years to be nominated, following in the footsteps of legendary striker Andriy Shevchenko, who last appeared on the list in 2006.

Dovbyk, 27, received the nomination for his outstanding performance with La Liga’s Girona FC, where he scored 24 goals and contributed 8 assists over 36 matches in the Spanish league last season. These achievements crowned him as the league’s top scorer, setting him apart as one of the season’s best forwards.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in Paris at the Théâtre du Châtelet on October 28 at 20:00 Kyiv time. The winner is anticipated amid much speculation, with current holder Lionel Messi among the favorites. Messi, now with Inter Miami, holds a record eight Ballon d’Or titles, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with five.

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