Ballon d'Or: Lionel Messi Names His Top Contender for Top Prize, Snubs Vinicius and Rodri
- Argentina captain Lionel Messi has left out Vinicius and Rodri as he named his preferred candidate to win the Ballon d'Or
- The 2022 World Cup-winning GOAT believes that his candidate 'deserves' the coveted prize more than any other player
- This year's Golden Ball Award ceremony will be held on 28 October at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris
Lionel Messi has named his pick for the upcoming 2024 Ballon d'Or after a standout performance against Bolivia on Tuesday night.
With the award ceremony approaching, anticipation over who will claim the prestigious honour continues to build.
Source: UGC
With the ceremony set for late October, many have their eyes on Real Madrid's Vinicius and Manchester City's Rodri as top contenders for the honour.
Who deserves the Ballon d'Or in 2024?
According to Eurosport, Vinicius delivered a stellar campaign for Madrid, netting 24 goals across all competitions and playing a pivotal role in their La Liga and UEFA Champions League triumphs.
PAY ATTENTION: Briefly News is now on YouTube! Check out our interviews on Briefly TV Life now!
On the other hand, Rodri's influence was immense for Man City, which claimed yet another Premier League title, and for Spain, which lifted the Euro 2024 trophy.
Reactions to the news:
Here are some of the responses from netizens.
@RackiRMA:
"He’s already won it."
@pindsultani:
"Fingers crossed for him."
@PakVideos1:
"With a 70% chance of winning the Ballon d'Or, Vinicius Junior's incredible season is undeniably turning heads."
@mykerrca:
"Okay but how does Rodri get a 20% chance."
@Freeze19889771:
"So happy for vini but Bellingham literally deserves 2 spot."
@GabrielNew36793:
"Bellingham deserves better."
@emperor0196:
"How is Rodri in second?"
@Footballfa68123:
"Vinicius is about to win a ballon d’or whiles Neymar never won one."
@Chukwuebuka_7:
"Jude Bellingham deserves it more than anyone else."
Messi picks his candidate as Ballon d'Or
However, Messi, the current Ballon d'Or holder, has unsurprisingly endorsed his Argentina teammate Lautaro Martinez as the leading contender for the prestigious award.
“He’s had a spectacular year. He scored in the [Copa America] final and was the top scorer. He deserves the Ballon d’Or more than anyone else,” Messi told reporters following La Albiceleste’s 6-0 victory over Bolivia, as reported by La Gazzetta via Bolavip.
Cafu 'disagrees' with Messi, picks Vinicius
In a related story, Briefly News reported that Brazilian legend Cafu 'disagreed' with Lionel Messi about who deserves to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
Cafu recently voiced his opinion during an interview with Stats Perform at Festival dello Sport in Italy. The iconic defender backed Vini to win the coveted prize.
Neymar reiterates support for Vinicius
Earlier, Briefly News reported that Neymar Jr. reiterated his backing for Vinicius Junior to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
The former Barcelona star tipped Vinicius to outshine competitors like Jude Bellingham and Rodri for the prestigious award.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Vinicius 'already knows' he's secured the 2024 Ballon d'Or, with Nike preparing a special tribute to him.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: YEN.com.gh
