The Ballon d'Or 2024 ceremony took place on October 28, revealing Rodrigo Hernández Cascante as the winner, surpassing Vinícius Júnior, who was considered the favorite. Hours before the event, it was leaked that the Manchester City midfielder would be the winner, which led to the absence of players and executives from Real Madrid at the ceremony held in Paris, France.
The news generated controversy, as Vinícius Júnior was instrumental in Real Madrid's conquest of the Champions League. The Brazilian winger played 39 matches and scored 24 goals, highlighting his role in LaLiga, the Champions League, and the Supercopa de España. However, his performance in the Copa América was disappointing.
On the other hand, Rodrigo Hernández Cascante proved to be worthy of the Ballon d'Or by being essential in the midfield of Manchester City, which became the first four-time champion of the Premier League. With 50 matches played and 9 goals, Rodri also won the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Additionally, the 28-year-old player won the Euro 2024 with the Spanish National Team, where he was named MVP by UEFA. These achievements allowed Rodri to surpass Vinícius Júnior in the race for the Ballon d'Or, thereby delaying the Brazilian's dream of becoming the best player in the world.
