Official 2024 Ballon d’Or Votes Emerge, Vinicius Lost to Rodri by a ‘Close’ Margin

Official 2024 Ballon d’Or Votes Emerge, Vinicius Lost to Rodri by a ‘Close’ Margin

  • The 2024 Ballon d'Or Award is now water under the bridge after Man City's Rodri edged Vinicius to the prize almost a fortnight ago
  • Rodri emerged as the surprise winner of the 68th edition of the most coveted individual honour in football
  • While it is a foregone conclusion, the official voting results have emerged with Vinicius losing by a 'slim' margin

The official breakdown of the 2024 Ballon d'Or results has reportedly emerged, shedding new light on Rodri's path to victory over fan-favourite Vinicius Junior.

Nearly two weeks after the Manchester City star lifted the prestigious award at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, the voting details reveal a tight contest, dispelling suspicions of a rigged outcome.

Vinicius Junior finished in second position behind Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d'Or Awards.
Vinicius Junior missed out on the Ballon d'Or Award to Rodri by 41 points. Photos by Franck Fife and Image Photo Agency.
Source: UGC

Rodri beats Vinicius to Ballon d'Or Award

Rodri, lauded as City's midfield dynamo, became the first midfielder since Luka Modric in 2018 to win the accolade.

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Vinicius Jr: Ballon d'Or runner-up scores beautiful Panenka penalty, Video

His victory over the Brazilian forward sparked debate, as fans questioned the fairness of the result.

Yet, the voting data presents a close race, with Rodri narrowly edging out Vinicius by just 41 points.

According to L'Equipe via Besoccer, Rodri accumulated a total of 1,170 points, while Vinicius followed closely with 1,129.

Notably, both players had detractors among the jury: five journalists omitted Rodri from their top 10 selections, while Vinicius was left out by three.

This mixed reception did not deter Vinicius, who, though falling short, vowed to amplify his efforts, aiming for football’s highest individual honor in the near future.

How does the Ballon d'Or voting work?

The Ballon d’Or voting process itself involved 100 journalists—one representing each of the top 100 nations in FIFA's world rankings.

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The 5 key reasons Ballon d'Or voter opted for Rodri instead of Vinicius Jr

Each journalist submitted a top 10 list, assigning 15 points to their first-choice player, 12 to the second, followed by 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point down the order, Marca reports.

The player with the highest cumulative score claimed the trophy.

As anticipation builds, the individual selections of each journalist will be publicly released on November 9, providing further insight into how Rodri’s stellar season resonated with the global voting panel.

Vinicius opens up after Ballon d'Or heartbreak

In an earlier article, Briefly News reported that Vinicius shared his reaction after just missing out on the Ballon d'Or.

The Brazilian standout was considered a top contender for the award, but it ultimately went to Manchester City’s Rodri.

Notably, neither Vinicius nor any Real Madrid representatives were present at the 68th Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Viginia Akinyi avatar

Viginia Akinyi (sports editor) Viginia Akinyi is the current import editor at Briefly News. She holds a B.Sc. in Communication and Public Relations from Moi University and has previously worked with Lolwe TV, Daily Nation Eldoret Bureau and SportsBrief.com. Email: viginia.akinyi@briefly.co.za