Juan Soto will lead the Yankees to the World Series, Lionel Messi will fail to win any silverware, and the Maple Leafs will end 55 years of hurt… DailyMail.com’s predictions for 2024

After twelve tumultuous months of sports, the 2024 calendar is already packed with exciting action.

All that remains? To find out who will triumph – in hockey, in football, in soccer, in baseball, in golf and in the major tournaments ahead.

Here, DailyMail.com's writers put their necks on the line and make their bold choices for the next twelve months*

*Some of these predictions could look very strange soon

Toronto Maple Leafs end their 55-year drought

It's been 55 years since hockey's cultural mecca celebrated a Stanley Cup victory, but that will change in 2024 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have been on the rise since late November.

Leafs fans hoped the NHL's longest title drought would end after the team drafted Auston Matthews in 2016. That confidence only increased when they signed John Tavares in 2018. But despite seven consecutive playoff appearances, Toronto has not advanced past the second round.

That will change this year. They are among the leaders in scoring and there is reason to believe Toronto's mediocre defense can be remedied, especially with plenty of veteran blue line talent on the trade market. Noah Hanifin or Chris Tanev – born in Toronto – maybe?

Leafs fans have had their hopes up before, but maybe – just maybe – this will be the year.

Alex Raskin

Golden State will trade either Klay Thompson or Draymond Green this offseason

The 2021-2022 NBA champions are sputtering badly. Klay Thompson is a shadow of his former self, Draymond Green can't stop abusing opponents and ultimately Stephen Curry has been given the almost impossible task of making this team competitive.

The good news is that at age 35, Curry is still as masterful as ever, leading the team's offense based on efficient scoring splits. But don't expect the Warriors, who are between 15 and 16 years old, to continue wasting the guard's final years as a superstar.

Curry needs help if the Warriors have any intention of making the playoffs — let alone making a deep run.

And if the team continues its poor run of form, president Brandon Schneider will do the previously unthinkable: either the oft-suspended Green or the fading Thomspon (who will seek a lucrative new contract extension in the summer) will be used to make weight. for a legitimate second option. The Warriors have been a true dynasty, but it's time to re-establish themselves.

Jake Nisse

Juan Soto will lead the Yankees to World Series glory

It's official: 2024 is the year of the New York Yankees. Yes, I know 2023 was meant to be that way, and 2022, and 20… but this year it really is. This past winter, they recruited Juan Soto and added another big bat to an offense that also included Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo.

They all stay healthy, and MVP-in-waiting Soto will help them win the AL East title. He will beat Judge's home run record, with 99 chasing him until October.

Gerrit Cole will also seal the Cy Young Awards and lead a formidable bullpen that also stars Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes.

The Bombers cruise through the ALDS in October before winning the Championship Series in six games. The Yankees will be too much for the Dodgers in the World Series. It doesn't matter that they have Shohei Ohtani. It doesn't matter that Yoshinobu Yamamoto turned down the Bronx for LA. Their time will come, but in 2024 there will be a party on the streets of New York City.

Ben Nagel

Lionel Messi will not win a trophy for club or country

December 18, 2022 marked the beginning of an astonishing twelve months in Lionel Messi's career: that evening, in the desert of Qatar, Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory.

A French title with Paris Saint-Germain soon followed. Then came his move to Inter Miami and the Leagues Cup victory. And then, in October, Messi won the Ballon d'Or for a record eighth time.

The scene is set for another blockbuster year. With Luis Suarez joining Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Miami enters the 2024 MLS season as favorites.

Argentina now has a good chance of winning the Copa America on American soil next summer.

But Messi will fall short on both counts. The final weeks of the 2023 MLS season showed that even the greatest can't avoid the clutches of Father Time forever. At 36, the increasing need to control his body will limit Messi's playing time next year – and hamper his influence for club and country at home. hunt for more trophies.

Daniel Matthew

The Chiefs will fall at the first hurdle in the NFL playoffs

It's been a season of struggle for the Chiefs, with offensive inconsistencies hampering their 2023 campaign.

Patrick Mahomes hasn't been as accurate as fans have come to expect – partly because he has far fewer weapons than in the past. Travis Kelce was great, but signs of age were starting to show. Additionally, Mahomes' wide receiving corps has let him down all season.

It all points to trouble in the playoffs. Andy Reid's side are chasing a fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years, but this season the Chiefs will fall at the first hurdle.

Bonus Prediction: If the Chicago Bears land the first overall pick, they won't draft Caleb Williams. They will either trade it or draft Marvin Harrison Jr as a reliable weapon for QB Justin Fields.

Jake Fenner

Ludvig Aberg will win one of the majors on his first try

Willie Park Sr., Horace Rawlins, Fred Herd, Francis Ouimet, Ben Curtis, Keegan Bradley… and now Ludvig Aberg?

The Swede has never played a major in his short but already successful career, but after bursting onto the scene in 2023 he has certainly made his case to join the shortlist of players who can win on their major debut .

He's only 24, which makes him about eight years younger than the average age of major champions, but he's already a champion his first professional win at the Omega European Masters on the DP World Tour in September. And he followed it up with his first PGA Tour victory at the RSM Classic, just his 11th Tour start since turning pro.

In the middle of his two victories was the greatest showcase of his talent and potential: the Ryder Cup. Fans mocked Luke Donald's decision to pick a player who had only turned pro in May and had never competed in a major. But the Texas Tech alum went 2-2 in Rome, including a 9&7 thrashing of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka with Viktor Hovland.

Aberg is a future world number 1. He sends the ball a mile and on a string. His short game isn't too shabby either. He has also already proven that he can handle the pressure of an opportunity and compete with big winners. So why can't he win a major already this year?

Isabel Baldwin