Ballon d'Or: Vinicius aims for a first coronation, Bonmati a second

Ballon d'Or: Vinicius aims for a first coronation, Bonmati a second
Ballon d'Or: Vinicius aims for a first coronation, Bonmati a second

Ballon d’Or 2024

Vinicius aims for a first coronation, Bonmati a second

The Real Madrid star could be the first Brazilian since Kaka to win the trophy. Among the women, the Spaniard Aitana Bonmati is in pole position for the second year in a row.

Published today at 8:07 p.m.

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Real Madrid's Brazilian striker, Vinicius Jr, could be the next winner of the Ballon d'Or on Monday during the ceremony of the prestigious award which could well be won for the second year in a row by Spaniard Aitana Bonmati.

'Vini' can become the first Brazilian to win football's most prestigious individual award since Kaka 17 years ago.

He took on a new dimension last season with Real, being one of the architects of the Champions League – Liga double: in C1, he notably scored in the final against Borussia Dortmund and was named best player of the competition .

With his selection, he made less of an impression, knowing that Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Copa America, but this poor performance should not prevent him from winning the Golden Ball.

The Real winger also distinguished himself off the field by becoming one of the figures in the fight against racism. On Sunday, he gave his support to the Barcelona players who were victims of racist remarks from Real supporters on Saturday evening during the Clasico lost to Barça (4-0).

“What happened yesterday at the Bernabéu with racist insults is lamentable. There is no place for these criminals in our society. All my support to Lamine, Ansu and Raphinha. I know that Madrid and the police will do things to identify and punish the culprits!!,” Vinicius wrote on X.

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If he wins the Ballon d'Or, he will succeed Leo Messi, who won his 8th Ballon d'Or last year. Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted the best footballer on the planet five times.

This is also the first time since 2003 that neither the Argentinian nor the Portuguese appear among the list of nominees, nor any other former winner of the trophy, which rewards the best player over the period which extends from the 1st August 2023 to July 31, 2024.

The two stars, now aging and playing respectively in the United States and Saudi Arabia, are giving way to young people.

Rodri also favorite

Apart from the Brazilian international (24 years old), who is the big favorite, Rodri, 28 years old, centerpiece of the Citizens' success in the Premier League and La Roja at the Euro, is his real competitor.

The only downside: the elimination of Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Big Ears Cup. Jude Bellingham, who lost in the Euro final against Spain, was also decisive last season but in less important matches than Vinicius.

The latter, 21 years old, won the award for best young person last year, the Kopa Trophy, which will also be presented Monday evening at the Théâtre du Châtelet. FC Barcelona nugget Lamine Yamal, 17, should be the winner. Seen as the successors to the Ballon d'Or of Messi and Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé or Erling Haaland are not the ultimate favorites this year.

Kylian Mbappé, 25, the only French representative among the nominees, has the best statistics (52 goals in 59 matches), but his poor performance with the team at the Euro works against him.

The captain of the Blues, targeted by rape investigation according to Swedish mediashould nevertheless travel to for the ceremony and could explain himself publicly for the first time on these potential accusations if he stops in front of the media.

Like the Frenchman, City center forward Erling Haaland was not decisive in important matches last season. For its sixth edition, the Women's Golden Ball should be awarded like last year to the Spaniard Aitana Bonmati.

The podium could be entirely in the colors of FC Barcelona: her teammates Alexia Putellas, winner in 2021 and 2022, and Salma Paralluelo are the two other players who can claim the trophy.

This will be the fourth time in a row that Barça has been distinguished, which illustrates the control of the Catalan club and the Spanish selection over world women's football.

The defending champion and midfielder makes an impression with her vision of the game, her projection and her efficiency in front of goal. “She’s a bit like the female version of Iniesta,” coach Pep Guardiola said about her in 2023.

AFP/CBD

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