INDIVIDUAL prizes don’t get any bigger than the Ballon d’Or – and tonight we’ll have a brand-new winner.
Real Madrid stars Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham are the big favourites to scoop the golden award in Paris.
Manchester City’s Rodri is also in contention to win, while 17-year-old Spain starlet Lamine Yamal is also a nominee.
England captain Harry Kane and Premier League superstars Cole Palmer, Martin Odegaard and Phil Foden are also up for the award.
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How many Brazilians have won the Ballon d’Or?
For a country so steeped in footballing history, Brazil has a surprisingly small number of Ballon d’Or wins.
The country has five, the same number as World Cup victories to its name, although they were only eligible from 1995 – and only 2007 if they plied their trade outside Europe.
That means that in his prime, Pele, pictured below with Franz Beckenbauer in 2003, was never in contention.
Credit: AP How are the awards decided?
The awards are voted for by a jury of journalists from each of the top 100 countries in the Fifa men’s world ranking.
Each juror selects 10 players in descending order of merit from the list of nominees.
Those 10 players are awarded 15, 12, 10, eight, seven, five, three, two and one point respectively.
The player with the most points is awarded the Ballon d’Or.
A full list of the rankings – from 30th to second – will accompany the announcement of the winner.
Vinicius Jr’s exceptional season
Vinicius Jr, 24, enjoyed an inspired 2023-24 season, leading Real Madrid to a La Liga-Champions League double, scoring in the Champions League final – a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund – and being named the competition’s best player.
Credit: GETTY Credit: GETTY Credit: GETTY
Recap – what’s happened?
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has reportedly refused to attend tonight’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, as he believes the result is a foregone conclusion.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported no player nor member of the coaching staff or management from Real Madrid will be attend the glitzy ceremony,
Posting on X, Romano shared a post saying: ‘BREAKING: Vinicius Jr will NOT travel to Paris as Real Madrid know he will NOT win the Ballon d’Or.
“No one from Real Madrid will attend the ceremony. No Florentino Pérez, no Vini Jr, no Carlo Ancelotti, no Jude Bellingham.”
This shock news comes after it was reportedly leaked that the winner of football’s most glamorous individual prize is Man City’s Rodri, who is currently out of the first team due to an injury.
Who should win?
That’ll be Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr – obviously. It’ll be a major snub to the Brazilian if he misses out (he is reportedly not attending tonight’s ceremony).
Spain’s midfielder Aitana Bonmati is widely expected to win in the women’s category.
Credit: GETTY Who will win … who should win?
The smart money is on Man City’s Rodri to lift the Ballon d’Or in Paris tonight – but who should win it?
Credit: Reuters No Messi or Ronaldo
It is the first time since 2003 that eight-time winner Messi – pictured below in 2023 and 2013 – and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo have not been nominated.
Credit: AP Credit: Reuters Who are the nominees for the Ballon d’Or awards?
There are 30 nominees in both the men’s and women’s category.
In the men’s category, six England players – captain Harry Kane, midfielders Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Declan Rice, and forwards Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer – have been nominated.
England-based players Ruben Dias, Emiliano Martinez, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba are also nominated.
Credit: GETTY Credit: GETTY When is the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
The ceremony takes place on Monday, 28 October at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris at 19:45 tonight.
All you need to known about Ballon d’Or 2024
The world’s best footballers will gather in Paris on Monday for the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
It will be the 68th edition of the award, which has been presented annually by French magazine France Football since 1956.
The Ballon d’Or award is widely recognised as the most prestigious individual accolade for footballers in both the men’s and women’s game.
While there are several categories at the ceremony, all eyes will be on who succeeds 2023 winner Lionel Messi in the men’s category and whether Aitana Bonmati can again claim the top women’s award.
‘Shocking’ – fans react to the news that Vinicius Jr will not reportedly travel to Paris
Fans have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to express their shock that VJ is not excected to be at the awards ceremony for the Ballon d’Or tonight.
Welcome to our Ballon d’Or 2024 blog – it’s all kicking off …
You can follow us here for all the latest updates on the prize – starting with this breaking news story…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
