With rumors circulating that Vinicius Jr. and Real Madrid may skip the Ballon d’Or ceremony, Ballon d’Or executives have issued a strong response.
The ceremony, set to take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, will reveal the 2024 winner. Vinicius Jr. and Rodri have both been named as top contenders. Although MARCA initially suggested Vinicius was a favorite, RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins recently reported that those close to Vinicius now doubt he will secure the award, a sentiment reflected in Madrid. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano echoed this by confirming that no Real Madrid representatives, including Vinicius, Florentino Pérez, Carlo Ancelotti, or Jude Bellingham, are expected to attend.
With Vinicius likely out of contention, many believe Manchester City’s Rodri could be set to claim the award. In response to the speculation, Ballon d’Or executive Marc Las issued a statement, asserting that only he and the head of France Football know the 2024 winner, dismissing any other claims as unfounded.
The official winner will be announced tonight in Paris at the highly anticipated ceremony.