As the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony gets underway in Paris, Real Madrid believe that Manchester City will win, with 28-year-old Rodri expected to claim the prestigious individual award.
Many believed that Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior would earn the award. However, as a result of the expectation that Rodri will get it, Vinicius will not attend, and neither will Lionel Messi, who won a record seven titles, but this time, missed out on the 30-player shortlist for the first time since 2005.
If Rodri wins, it will be the first time a Premier League player has won the Ballon d'Or since Cristiano Ronaldo's fifth victory in 2008 while at Manchester United.
Vinicius expressed his disappointment at missing out on the nomination, telling ESPN: "I was upset, I think I deserved it. I don't want to belittle the players who are there, but I think I had a place in the 30. It was a surprise..."
Although Vinnie Jr. scored 24 goals across all competitions to help Real Madrid secure a La Liga title and their 15th Champions League crown, it wasn't enough to earn the requisite votes.
Emilio Butragueno, who is Madrid's director of institutional relations, is also not coming, which means that there will be no club representation at the awards show.
With Rodri seemingly poised to be crowned the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, the focus will be on whether he can join the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, and other all-time greats in claiming football's highest individual honor.
