Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior Likely to Miss Out on 2024 Ballon d'Or as Rodri Emerges Favorite

In a surprising development, Real Madrid's star winger Vinicius Junior is expected to miss out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or, with Manchester City midfielder Rodri now tipped as the favorite for the prestigious award. Sources close to Real Madrid revealed that Vinicius and his teammates have canceled their planned trip to Paris for the award ceremony on Monday, seeing the decision as both “unfair” and “a historic injustice.” 

Vinicius, who had an exceptional season, was considered a top contender for the award after his significant contributions to Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League victories. The Brazilian forward, at only 24 years old, was instrumental in his team’s success, scoring 15 goals in La Liga and another six in the Champions League, including crucial goals in the semifinal against Bayern Munich and the final against Borussia Dortmund.

Despite these achievements, Real Madrid sources report a growing sentiment within the club that Vinicius’s contributions may be overlooked in favor of Rodri, who played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s treble-winning season. Rodri’s influence, particularly in high-stakes games, such as the Champions League final, has reportedly placed him in a strong position to secure the award. Some within Real Madrid have expressed disappointment, characterizing the decision as a "robbery" and noting that Vinicius’s absence from the ceremony is both a form of protest and an expression of frustration with the Ballon d’Or organizers.

Vinicius is joined by fellow Madrid nominees including Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, and Federico Valverde. Additionally, goalkeeper Andriy Lunin is nominated for Best Goalkeeper, while young talent Arda Güler is a candidate for the Kopa Trophy, and manager Carlo Ancelotti is nominated for Best Coach. The club’s unified decision to not attend the ceremony is seen as a statement against what they perceive as the undervaluing of their players' accomplishments in the face of broader recognition for Premier League players this season.

With just hours until the official announcement, speculation and anticipation continue to build around Rodri’s potential win, marking a significant achievement for the Spanish midfielder and a turning point in the competition for individual accolades between players from La Liga and the Premier League.

Source: Gistmania

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