Rodri to be named Ballon d'Or 2024 winner in shock twist: reports

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Manchester City star Rodri is to scoop the Ballon d'Or 2024, following widespread reports that Vinicius Jr is to be snubbed at the last minute

Rodrigo Hernández Cascante aka Rodri attends the 67th Ballon D'Or Ceremony at Theatre Du Chatelet on October 30, 2023 in Paris, France.
Rodri attends the 67th Ballon D'Or Ceremony in 2023 (Image credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Manchester City star Rodri has won the Ballon d'Or, according to multiple reports.

The midfielder, who picked up an ACL injury in September against Arsenal, has enjoyed a standout season in his career, winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and lifting the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain. Rodri was injured in the final of the latter but still won the Best Player award from the tournament.

After Vinicius Jr was widely expected to win his first-ever Ballon d'Or, reports are now coming out that the Brazilian is to be snubbed after all.

Manchester City star Rodri has won the Ballon d'Or, say reports

Rodri in action for Manchester City against Brentford in the Premier League on September 14, 2024

Rodri is the first Ballon d'Or winner from the Premier League in 16 years (Image credit: Alamy)

No Premier League player has won France Football's accolade since Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, lifted his first in 2008.

But after information from Mario Cortegana of The Athletic and French journalist Fabrice Hawkins via X (formerly Twitter) that no one from Real Madrid would be attending tonight's awards after the club “had a feeling” Vinicius Jr would not be receiving the gong, transfer insider and expert Fabrizio Romano has backed up that information.

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior poses prior to the 2023 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023.

Vinicius Junior poses prior to the 2023 Ballon d'Or (Image credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

After the Ballon d'Or's final standings leaked earlier, Vinicius was revealed to have won the award ahead of Rodri in second. The Brazilian's club-mate Jude Bellingham was in third.

Sports Illustrated have since claimed that Rodri will receive the award, with national team manager Luis de la Fuente claiming that it would be “magnificent” for the nation.

“I would be delighted if it were Rodri or [Dani] Carvajal or any Spanish player," De la Fuente told the press from Paris, the city hosting this Monday's awards ceremony, as per FootBoom. “Rodrigo is like family to me, just like Carvajal, everyone who is on the national team.”

FourFourTwo can affirm that nothing has been confirmed yet from France Football – but this would be the biggest shock in recent BDO memory.

VIDEO The ONLY Way Man City Can Survive Without Rodri

Vinicius was thought to be a shoo-in for the award with many bookies suspending odds over the winner of the competition. The star's loss in the Copa America, however, may have tipped the balance late on.

Real Madrid return to Champions League action next month.

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.