Vinicius Jr.’s outstanding performances at Real Madrid have positioned the 24-year-old forward as the frontrunner to secure his first B
Ballon d’Or, with the announcement of the best player in the world set to take place in Paris on Monday.
Vinicius delivered an impressive performance this season, netting 24 goals and contributing 11 assists across 39 matches. His efforts were instrumental in guiding the Spanish powerhouse to a nearly flawless 2023-24 campaign, culminating in the reclamation of the LaLiga title and the achievement of a record-extending 15th European Cup. In the Champions League final, the Brazilian scored a goal and won the title of the tournament’s best player.
Vinicius has emerged as the frontrunner for the award, with bookmakers placing their bets on the Brazilian ahead of competitors Rodri from Spain and Manchester City’s Jude Bellingham.
He seeks to become the first Brazilian to win the award since Kaka in 2007, and only the third individual, aside from Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, to achieve this distinction since 2008.
The final 30-man list of nominees does not include Messi or Ronaldo for the first time since 2003.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time recipient of the prestigious award, did not secure a nomination last year following his transfer to Saudi Arabia. Despite Argentina’s success in the Copa America in 2023, Messi secured his eighth win, a record achievement.
Notably absent from France Football’s shortlist are previous winners Luka Modric, who took home the award in 2018, and Karim Benzema, the recipient in 2022.
Rodri emerges as Vinicius’ primary competitor, with Pep Guardiola lauding him as “the best midfielder in the world.”
Rodri played a crucial role in securing Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and earned the accolade of best player at this year’s European Championship, contributing to Spain’s achievement of a record-extending fourth title.
Bellingham earned the LaLiga MVP title after a standout debut season in which he scored a career-high 19 goals and significantly contributed to England’s run to the Euro 2024 final.
Despite a disappointing Copa America campaign with a struggling Brazil, Vinicius has distinguished himself with outstanding performances in the Champions League, positioning him as a frontrunner.
In a historic achievement, he has become the first Brazilian player to find the net in two Champions League finals. He netted the sole goal in the 2022 final against Liverpool and repeated this feat in the current year, contributing to a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund.
In the prestigious women’s Ballon d’Or Feminin, Champions League champions Barcelona have secured six nominations, featuring last year’s recipient Aitana Bonmati alongside two-time winner Alexia Putellas.
