Vinicius Favourite for Ballon d’Or in Post-Messi-Ronaldo Era

The world’s top football talents are set to gather in Paris on Monday for the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony, where Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is favored to claim the men’s award, and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati stands as the frontrunner for her second consecutive Women’s Ballon d’Or.

For the first time since 2003, the men’s shortlist for the Ballon d’Or does not feature Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, who have dominated the award, winning it 13 times between them.

Instead, Vinicius, who now wears Ronaldo’s iconic number seven at Real Madrid, is widely considered the leading candidate to succeed Messi after a stellar season that saw him lift both the La Liga and Champions League titles.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti recently backed Vinicius for the Ballon d’Or following the Brazilian’s standout performance in a 5-2 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund, where he scored a hat-trick. “Vinicius is going to win,” Ancelotti stated. “Not just because of the goals, but because of his character. He’s extraordinary.”

Although Vinicius struggled to make a mark in Real Madrid’s recent 4-0 La Liga loss to Barcelona, his six goals last season were essential to Madrid’s 15th Champions League title, including crucial contributions in the semi-final and a goal in the final.

Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Vinicius has become an influential figure in the fight against racism, having endured frequent abuse in Spain since his arrival in 2018. His stance against discrimination gained global support, particularly after a confrontation with Valencia fans in May 2023.

Vinicius faces competition for the Ballon d’Or from teammates such as England’s Jude Bellingham, along with Manchester City’s Rodri, who helped Spain to a Euro 2024 win. Other contenders include prolific scorers Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe, as well as Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal, following a season where he won La Liga, the Champions League, and the European Championship.

In the women’s category, Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is anticipated to retain the Ballon d’Or she first won last season. Bonmati, 26, was once again the standout player on a Barcelona team that secured an unprecedented quadruple: the domestic league, cup, Spanish Supercopa, and Champions League. Her closest challengers are club teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo, both of whom contributed to Barcelona’s continued dominance in women’s football.

The Ballon d’Or awards, decided by an international jury of football journalists, will be presented at a high-profile ceremony in central Paris, where the world will find out if Vinicius and Bonmati will take home the titles on Monday.

Source; AFP.