Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior will not be present at the Ballon d'Or ceremony this Monday, where the best player in men's and women's football will be announced for 2024. Despite being one of the favorites, Vinícius Júnior's absence from the event has raised doubts about whether he will win the award.
The decision for the player not to attend Paris was made by his club, Real Madrid, according to a source working with Vinícius. The absence of iconic figures like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has left Rodri, Manchester City midfielder and Spanish national team player, as one of the main candidates to win the award this year.
Unlike other awards like FIFA's, the Ballon d'Or voting system does not include fans. Journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA ranking are responsible for voting, selecting 10 players in order of preference. Each position receives a certain number of points, and the player with the most points is the winner.
In the women's field, Aitana Bonmatí, midfielder for Barcelona and the Spanish national team, who won the award in 2023, is once again a favorite to receive the prize this year. The competition includes Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo, teammates at Barcelona, the Champions League winners and Spanish champions.
The Ballon d'Or, created by France Football magazine in 1956 for men and in 2018 for women, is one of the most prestigious awards in the world of football. This year's gala promises to be exciting with prominent figures competing for recognition as the best players in the world in their respective categories.
