Brazil superstar Vinicius Junior and the entire Real Madrid entourage are SNUBBING the Ballon d’Or – with Manchester City star Rodri now expected to take the top prize.
Monday’s event in Paris was set to see Brazil forward Vinicius, England midfielder Jude Bellingham, Real manager Carlo Ancelotti and club president Florentino Perez all in attendance. But now the reigning Spanish and European champions will have no presence beyond virtual at the Theatre du Chatelet for the 68th Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Their absences have led to the belief that Rodri, who was instrumental as Man City won the Premier League title in May before powering Spain to glory and winning player of the tournament at Euro 2024, will be crowned the winner. That’s despite Vinicius Jr, 24, being the firm favourite for months, having been the standout player in Real’s La Liga title win and Champions League triumph.
This season hasn’t started as strongly for Ancelotti’s side, who were thrashed 4-0 by arch enemies Barcelona on Saturday night in their own back yard. A second-half brace from Robert Lewandowski before goals from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha put Barca six points clear of Real at the top of the table after just 12 games.
There were no smiles at the Bernabeu then and there aren’t likely to be any among on Monday, with Rodri, formerly of local rivals Atletico Madrid, set to win coveted prize in Paris – a silver lining after his season was ended with an ACL injury last month. Rodri’s City team-mate, Erling Haaland, is expected to finish third, one place behind Vinicius.
To rub salt in Madrid fans’ wounds, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati is the favourite to win the female version of the Ballon d’Or. Also handed out in Paris will be the Kopa Trophy for best male young player – which Bellingham currently holds – the Yachine Trophy for best male goalkeeper, men’s coach of the year and women’s coach of the year.
The feeling in Madrid over the past few weeks has been that Vinicius Jr was likely to become the first Brazilian to win the Ballon d’Or since Kaka did so in 2007. “I think he’ll win it,” Ancelotti declared after the 24-year-old scored a hat-trick to help Real come from behind and beat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
“He will win it but not because of what he did tonight. It will be because of what he did last season,” he added. “The three goals tonight will help him win the next Ballon d’Or!”
2025 may well have to be the target.