MADRID — Vinícius Júnior will not be attending the upcoming Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, where the titles for the best male and female soccer players of 2024 will be awarded.
The Brazilian forward had been considered a strong contender for the men’s award; however, his absence from the event raised questions about his chances of winning. According to a close associate of Vinícius, who requested anonymity due to restrictions on discussing player matters publicly, Real Madrid made the decision for him not to travel to Paris.

This year marks a significant turning point in the awards’ history as both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have collectively dominated the honor with 13 wins since its establishment, will not be candidates for the first time in over two decades.
Meanwhile, Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri seems to have emerged as a top contender for the award. However, he arrived at the gala on crutches after suffering an ACL injury during a match for his club last month.

On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmatí of Barcelona and Spain, the previous year’s recipient, is again among the frontrunners. She faces stiff competition from her Barcelona teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo, both of whom are also vying for recognition following Barcelona’s successful campaigns in the Champions League and the Spanish league.

The Ballon d’Or has been awarded since 1956 for male players, and since 2018 for female athletes, and it is organized by France Football magazine.
Voting for the prestigious award is conducted by journalists from the top 100 nations based on FIFA rankings. Each journalist selects ten players in order of preference, with points awarded according to their ranking. The player with the highest total of points is crowned the winner. Unlike FIFA’s annual player awards, fans do not participate in the voting process.