Ballon d’Or 2024, the outcomes of the two major international events revolutionize everything: Spanish insidious for Real Madrid striker.
The weight of the major international events, when it comes to awarding the Ballon d’Or, has always been very relevant. The most striking example is that of Leo Messi, who last October won for the eighth time in his career the famous prize awarded by France Football thanks to his world triumph with Argentina in Qatar in the fall of 2022.
That historic success overshadowed Pulce’s anonymous performances with the PSG jersey, which in the summer of 2023 had convinced him to accept Inter Miami’s offer, wintering in a second-tier league like the American MLS. It would not be a surprise, then, if the outcomes of the European Championship and Copa America that have just concluded would also particularly affect the awarding of the 2024 Ballon d’Or – the ceremony is scheduled for late October.
Before the two competitions, according to bookmakers’ odds, the number one favorite was Brazilian striker Vinicius, among the main protagonists of Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid’s ride in the Spanish La Liga and Champions League. The Greenoro national looked like he would have to beat only competition from his teammate Jude Bellingham, who was destined to serve out a finish to the season that was not quite up to par with previous months. What has happened in the past month, however, has changed the game.
Golden Ball 2024, Rodri hot on Vinicius’s heels
Brazil’s Vinicius in Copa America disappointed and went out in the quarterfinals against Uruguay. Only 2 goals for the Real Madrid outfielder, both scored in the match against Paraguay in the group stage.
If we exclude the marvelous backhand against Slovakia in the round of 16 and the header that decided the debut match with Serbia, Bellingham’s European Championship was also not memorable. From someone like him we would have expected more, especially in the Berlin final with Spain.
In Germany, however, the star of Rodri, the all-around midfielder of Spain’s newly crowned European champions, shone: a total player, also fresh off two crazy seasons with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The Spaniard, thanks to Euro 2024, jumped from seventh to second place in the Ballon d’Or odds (2.75, Sisal), bypassing Bellingham (5.00) and even coming close to “threatening” Vinicius (2.25): the gap is now very thin. More detached Messi, who has confirmed himself as America’s champion, and starlet Yamal, definitely exploded on German soil. The first Italian in this special list is Gianluigi Donnarumma, quoted at 500.00.