TL;DR:
- Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., previously considered the favorite, is reportedly out of contention for the Ballon d’Or award, with Manchester City’s Rodri now expected to win.
- The news has shocked the football world, as Vinicius Jr. was poised to become the first Brazilian to claim the award since 2007, and Real Madrid had planned a large delegation to attend the ceremony.
- The development follows Real Madrid’s 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico, and Vinicius Jr.’s alleged decision not to attend the ceremony has been criticized as a lack of respect for the expected winner.
- If the reports are accurate, Rodri will become Manchester City’s first-ever Ballon d’Or winner, succeeding Lionel Messi, as the football world eagerly awaits the official announcement at the France Football ceremony.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. is reportedly no longer in the running to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, according to French outlet RMC Sport. The Brazilian forward, who was widely considered the favorite for the men’s best football player accolade, is now expected to miss out on the honor at Monday evening’s star-studded ceremony in Paris.
The news has sent shockwaves through the football world, as Vinicius Jr. was poised to become the first Brazilian to claim the award since Kaka in 2007. Instead, Manchester City midfielder and Spain captain Rodri is now tipped to take home the coveted prize, marking a significant shift in the predicted outcome.
Real Madrid, caught off guard by this development, has reportedly canceled its plans to send a large delegation to Paris for the ceremony. The club had been anticipating a moment of triumph, with Vinicius Jr. potentially joining the ranks of recent Real Madrid Ballon d’Or winners such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema.
Sources close to Vinicius Jr.’s camp revealed that they began receiving indications early Monday morning that the voting had “become complicated.” Spanish media outlet El Chiringuito reported that Real Madrid has already informed the player of the disappointing news.
This unexpected twist comes on the heels of Real Madrid’s crushing 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico on Saturday, which saw them fall six points behind their rivals in the La Liga standings. The potential Ballon d’Or win for Vinicius Jr. could have provided a silver lining for the club and its supporters.
Adding to the controversy, BBC Sport’s Spanish football expert Guillem Balague criticized Vinicius Jr. for his apparent decision not to attend the ceremony, viewing it as a lack of respect for the expected winner, Rodri.
If the reports prove accurate, Manchester City will celebrate its first-ever Ballon d’Or winner, with Rodri succeeding eight-time recipient Lionel Messi. The football world now eagerly awaits the official announcement at the France Football ceremony, where the true outcome of this year’s Ballon d’Or will finally be revealed.
