Paris, Oct. 28, 2024 (BSS/AFP) – The crème de la crème of world football will gather in Paris this Monday for the highly anticipated Ballon d’Or ceremony. Leading the race for the prestigious men’s prize is none other than Real Madrid’s star striker, Vinicius Junior. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati prepares to defend her title with high expectations of winning her second consecutive crown.
The list of nominees for this prestigious individual award marks a historic moment, being the first edition since 2003 without the legendary duo, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who together won the trophy 13 times.
Vinicius, who now wears the legendary number seven jersey, once worn by Ronaldo at Real Madrid, has established himself as the ideal candidate to succeed Messi as winner of the men’s Ballon d’Or. His impressive season, during which he played a decisive role in winning the Spanish championship and the prestigious Champions League, captivated the attention of many analysts.
“Vinicius will win the Ballon d’Or,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti proclaimed after watching his star player score a hat-trick in a decisive 5-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last last week. “It’s not just about the goals; it’s also about character. He’s just extraordinary.”
Although the 24-year-old Brazilian shone in that comeback performance, his influence faded on Saturday as Real Madrid suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the La Liga Clasico.
However, Vinicius’ contributions were crucial last season as Madrid lifted the Champions League trophy for the 15th time, marked by a brace in the semi-finals and a key goal in the final.
Beyond his on-field exploits, Vinicius has become a prominent figure in the fight against racism, having been the victim of discriminatory abuse on several occasions since arriving in Spain in 2018. His courageous stand against supporters of Valencia in May 2023, after being insulted in their Mestalla stadium, sparked global support.
Vinicius’ challenger for the coveted Ballon d’Or will be his teammates, such as England’s Jude Bellingham, as well as Manchester City stalwart and Euro 2024 winner Rodri.
Other standout candidates include goal-scoring sensations Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé. Additionally, Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal has an outside chance, after a season that saw him win a hat-trick of La Liga, Champions League and European Championship titles.
In the Women’s Ballon d’Or category, Barcelona and Spain midfield maestro Bonmati, 26, is heavily favored to secure her second title, following her impressive victory last season. She shone once again in leading her team to a historic quadruple, including national championship and cup titles, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Champions League.
Barcelona’s dominance in women’s football is further reflected in the many nominees, with forwards Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo emerging as Bonmati’s main rivals.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony promises to be a thrilling event as the winners, selected by a distinguished international panel of football journalists, will be revealed in the heart of Paris this Monday.
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