According to Fabrizio Romano, candidate Vinicius Jr. and other members of Real Madrid will not go to Paris for the 2024 Ballon d’Or Ceremony.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently surprised many by revealing that Vinicius Jr. will not attend the Ballon d’Or 2024 awards in Paris. The Brazilian star will not be present in Paris due to not winning the prestigious individual award.
Not only Vinicius Jr., but Real Madrid members including President Florentino Pérez, manager Carlo Ancelotti, and midfielder Jude Bellingham will also be absent from the event.
This news is unexpected, as many had speculated that the Real Madrid star might be honored early on October 29 (Vietnam time).
In previous years, *France Football* typically invited the Ballon d’Or winner to Paris in advance for a cover photo shoot before the announcement day. However, this year, the French magazine is keeping everything under wraps, with the results only revealed on Gala night.
This secrecy has fueled speculation that the results were leaked, and the winner has been decided.
There are rumors of two versions of the results circulating online—one showing Vinicius Jr. as the winner and another favoring Manchester City’s Rodri.
As per analysts and betting predictions, Vinicius Jr., Rodri, and Jude Bellingham are considered top candidates for the award.
Vinicius had a stellar season with Real Madrid, helping the club secure a double last season (La Liga and Champions League). However, he performed poorly at Copa America 2024, where Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals in a match where he was suspended.
If Romano’s information is correct, Rodri from Manchester City could be the one honored. Although City couldn’t defend its Champions League title (losing to Real Madrid), Rodri was instrumental in helping them win a fourth consecutive Premier League title. Additionally, he played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, also earning Player of the Tournament honors.
With his achievements, Rodri’s potential Ballon d’Or win would be well-deserved.
Another prominent contender is Bellingham, who had an outstanding start to the season with Real Madrid and led England to the Euro final. However, his form declined toward the end of the season.
According to two leaked ballot versions circulating online, Bellingham is ranked third in both, with only the first and second spots varying between Vinicius and Rodri.
