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Brazilian forward and Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is reportedly not in contention for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, according to prominent football journalist Fabrizio Romano. Romano shared on Monday that Vinicius “will not” be traveling to Paris for the award ceremony.
In a tweet, Romano revealed that no representatives from Real Madrid, including Jude Bellingham, club president Florentino Pérez, or head coach Carlo Ancelotti, will be attending the event. “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,” Romano tweeted.
Meanwhile, multiple media sources suggest that Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Cascante, known as Rodri, is likely to take home the prestigious award. Rodri, who is currently sidelined due to a cruciate ligament injury, has been a formidable presence in midfield since joining Manchester City from Atletico Madrid in 2019. He scored the decisive goal in City’s 2023 Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, which marked the club’s first European title.
Rodri also played a vital role in Manchester City’s successful Premier League campaigns and Spain’s Euro 2024 victory. If he secures the Ballon d’Or, Rodri would become only the second player from the English Premier League to win, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s win in 2008.
Vinicius, however, had been considered a top contender for the Ballon d’Or following an impressive season. The Brazilian forward scored the decisive goal in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool and added another Champions League title to his achievements with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in 2024, where he scored Madrid’s second goal. Vinicius contributed 24 goals throughout the season, helping Real Madrid capture the La Liga title, the Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup.
The list of nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or also includes Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland, Ademola Lookman, among others.