Rodri to Win 2024 Ballon d’Or, Vinicius Junior to Skip Ceremony, per Report

Rodri won the Premier League and Euro 2024 with Manchester City and Spain respectively.

Rodri is expected to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Rodri is expected to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or. / IMAGO/Visionhaus

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In an unexpected turn of events, Rodri is expected to be the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner over Vinícius Júnior.

Mario Cortegana of The Athletic reported Real Madrid knows Vinícius Júnior will not win the 2024 Ballon d’Or; soccer’s most prestigious individual honor is now seemingly destined for Manchester City’s Rodri.

Real Madrid will reportedly not travel to Paris where the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony is being held at the Théâtre du Châtelet. Fellow Ballon d’Or nominees and teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal, along with Carlo Ancelotti and Florentino Pérez are also expected not to attend. ESPN also reported the Brazilian forward will not travel to attend the event.

Vinícius Jr. was the favorite to win the award for his contributions to Real Madrid’s La Liga, Champions League and Spanish Super Cup titles. The Brazilian bagged a hat trick in the Spanish Super Cup final, 15 La Liga goals and six goals in the Champions League, including one in the final against Borussia Dortmund.

Rodri also had a strong case to take home the Ballon d’Or, though. The midfielder was an integral part in Manchester City’s Premier League title, pitching in with 17 goal contributions. He also won the UEFA Super Cup with the Citizens and helped Spain win Euro 2024.

In a surprising turn of events, Manchester City’s defensive midfielder Rodri is poised to claim the prestigious 2024 Ballon d’Or award, edging out Real Madrid’s star forward Vinícius Júnior. This unexpected outcome has sent shockwaves through the football world, as Vinícius was widely considered the frontrunner for the award due to his exceptional performances for Real Madrid in the previous season.

According to reports from The Athletic, Real Madrid has decided to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris. This decision, which includes the absence of Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Carlo Ancelotti, and Florentino Pérez, underscores the club’s disappointment with the outcome.

While Vinícius Júnior’s impressive goal-scoring record and pivotal role in Real Madrid’s domestic and European triumphs made him a strong contender, Rodri’s consistent performances and significant contributions to Manchester City’s success have seemingly tipped the scales in his favor.

His ability to dictate the tempo of games, break up opposition attacks, and contribute to goals has earned him widespread acclaim.

This unexpected development highlights the evolving nature of the Ballon d’Or, which has traditionally been dominated by attacking players. Rodri’s victory could signal a shift in the criteria for the award, recognizing the importance of midfielders and defensive players in modern football.