Ballon d'Or 2024 winner decided with Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr facing shock snub
Despite being favourite for the award after helping Real Madrid win the Champions League, Vinicius Jr is facing a shock snub in the 2024 Ballon d'Or
by David Byrom · The MirrorVinicius Jr is facing a shock snub in the 2024 Ballon d’Or on Monday night, according to the results of a Mirror Football poll.
The Real Madrid star is favourite to win the famed award thanks to a sensational 2023/24 season in which he helped Los Blancos win both La Liga and the Champions League, scoring in the final of the latter at Wembley in a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.
His performances last season have led many to proclaim he should win the Ballon d’Or on Monday evening, but our readers disagree.
Instead, Man City star Rodri, who is currently second-favourite to win the award, came out on top in the vote with 28 per cent of respondents arguing he should be crowned the winner.
Rodri, who was heavily tipped to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or thanks to his role in Man City’s treble two seasons ago but who ultimately finished fifth in the voting, also had an excellent 2023/24 season.
The midfielder helped City win a fourth successive Premier League title, also setting a record as he went 74 consecutive games unbeaten for his club - a streak that was only ended in the FA Cup final when his side lost to rivals Manchester United.
In what has perhaps given him the edge over Vinicius, who took 22 per cent of the vote, Rodri then also enjoyed success at international level too, as he helped Spain win Euro 2024.
The 28-year-old played a part in all but one of Spain’s matches in their run to be crowned continental champions, also scoring an important equaliser in a 4-1 win over Georgia.
International success has also likely earned one player third place, with Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez scooping 10 per cent of the vote to see off competition from Cole Palmer, who finished on eight per cent, and Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka, who both finished on seven per cent.
The goalkeeper played a key role in Argentina’s Copa America win, saving two spot-kicks in a quarter-final penalty shootout win over Ecuador before keeping a clean sheet in both the semi-final and final.
That success came after the 32-year-old helped his club side to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history, putting in a number of impressive displays and keeping eight clean sheets across the course of the Premier League campaign.
Martinez last year won the Yashin Trophy for the world’s best goalkeeper after helping Argentina win the World Cup in a dramatic penalty shootout against France and looks likely to retain that award, having been the only keeper to be nominated for the main Ballon d’Or prize this year.
Should he finish in the top three, Martinez will be the first goalkeeper in 10 years to achieve such a high finish, with Germany’s Manuel Neuer coming third in 2014.
It is guaranteed to be a first-time winner whoever scoops the award this year, with no previous winner having been nominated. Indeed, it’s also the first time in 21 years that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo have been nominated for the award.
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