Ballon d'Or 2024: Vinicius, Real Madrid to boycott ceremony with Manchester City's Rodri set to win award - reports
Updated 28/10/2024 at 16:09 GMT
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If reports in Spain are to be believed, the favourite to win the men's Ballon d'Or – Vinicius Junior – will miss out on the famous trophy, with Manchester City's Rodri to be given the award instead. Stars are gathering in Paris ahead of tonight's ceremony, where the women's award and other prizes will also be handed out. Follow all the updates on our live blog.
‘He is the best!’ – Guardiola backs Rodri for 2024 Ballon d’Or
Video credit: TNT Sports
Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri is reportedly on course to beat Vinicius Junior to the Ballon d'Or, after the Real Madrid forward started the day as favourite to take home the prestigious trophy.
Having won the Premier League with his club and the European Championship with his country, Rodri would become the first midfielder of his type to land the prize since Luka Modric in 2018.
While some were ready to crown Vinicius as the winner, reports in Spain began to emerge with hours to go until the ceremony's start in Paris that the award would go to Rodri instead.
According to AS, Vinicius' camp is so sure that he will not win the award that plans to attend the 68th edition of the Ballon d'Or have been scrapped, with further reports suggesting Real Madrid staff will skip it altogether, meaning England's Jude Bellingham – another leading nominee – would not travel to the Theatre du Chatelet.
The Ballon d’Or is run by France Football, with the winners decided by a jury of 100 journalists – one from each country represented in FIFA’s top 100 for men and top 50 for women.
The panel is asked to judge players on three criteria: individual performances and their character, team achievements, as well as class and fair play. Although it is a secret ballot, rumours are increasing that Rodri will be the winner.
Should the City midfielder be successful, it will represent some good news in what has been a difficult few months for the 28-year-old, who is out for the season with a serious knee injury.
Rodri winning the award would go down well with his manager, Pep Guardiola, who has exclusively told TNT Sports that his player should be the favourite.
"He’s the best. You tell me this; that’s how I will answer. I always thought the Ballon d’Or was [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo]. You still see, the age that they are, Messi scoring three goals for his national team.
“Rodri. If I could decide, I would say that. I understand that there are other players that can win it. I think the other way is being nominated and being there is already nice.”
Rodri has been influential for club and country, helping City become the first club to win the Premier League four times before spearheading Spain to victory at Euro 2024, despite being withdrawn at half-time of their win over England in the final.
Despite that, beating Vinicius would come as a surprise. The Brazil forward looked on course to become the first player from his country to win the Ballon d'Or since Kaka in 2007 and the fifth in total.
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The 24-year-old scored 24 goals and recorded nine assists as Real went on a trophy spree in 2023/24, with triumphs that included the UEFA Champions League and a dominant La Liga title.
He has started this campaign on fire too, scoring eight and setting up another five in all competitions, while last year he took home the Socrates Award in recognition of his humanitarian work in Brazil.
Vinicius has also been one of the leading players in world football to speak up against racism in the game, having been faced abuse from the stands.
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