News
Ballon d’Or 2024: Messi Rated ‘Poorly’ Behind Vinicius, Bellingham In Latest Prediction
In a development which may seem surprising to some football lovers, Lionel Messi, a distinguished player from Argentina, has been assigned a modest 4% probability of securing the coveted 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
Despite his pivotal role in leading Argentina to victory at the 2024 Copa America, Messi is not anticipated to secure an additional eight Ballon d’Or accolades.
Score 90 reports that Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid is significantly leading the pack with a 35% likelihood of being awarded the prestigious honour.
Rodri, a midfielder for Manchester City, is in close competition, trailing behind with a 32% chance, while his teammate at Bernabeu, Jude Bellingham, occupies the third position with an 11% probability.
Dani Carvajal, also representing Real Madrid, is positioned fourth with a 7% chance.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in October 2024.
Michael Owen’s 2024 Ballon d’Or Favourites
A month ago, former Liverpool and Manchester United forward, Micahel Owen, identified Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior as the top contenders for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
However, Owen believes that should England win the Euro 2024 tournament currently ongoing in Germany, Bellingham will likely win the award ahead of Brazil’s Vinicius.
Sportxparte reports that Bellingham and Vinicius stood out for Real Madrid in the previous season.
The duo were instrumental to Real Madrid’s victory in both the Champions League and La Liga.
“Bellingham has obviously done great. If England go and have a great Euros, then he would be the obvious one. Vinícius Júnior has done equally well,” Owen said, as quoted by DAZN.
“You have just got to wait for the Euros, haven’t you? If Mbappe goes and scores a hat trick again in a final, like he did in the World Cup, he could be a late runner.
“As things stand, it probably looks like it is a toss-up between those two, Vinicius Junior and Bellingham, but there is still the biggest tournament to go of the year, so things can change.”
In a recent interview, Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal also picked Vinicius Junior, as the deserving recipient of the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
As per the Spain international, Vinicius’ outstanding performances throughout the season, despite injury setbacks, make him a strong contender for the prestigious accolade.
Vinicius showcased his talent in 39 matches for Real Madrid during the 2023-24 season, scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists for the team.
His contributions were instrumental in Real Madrid’s victories in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti.
When asked about his top choice for the Ballon d’Or this year, Carvajal expressed his support for Vinicius during a chart with MARCA.
