Ederson Backs Vinicius Junior for 2024 Ballon d’Or Over Teammate Rodri
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has expressed his support for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or, prioritizing national pride over club allegiance. Despite teammate Rodri being a strong contender due to his pivotal role in Manchester City’s Premier League success and Spain’s triumph at Euro 2024, Ederson believes Vinicius deserves the accolade for his outstanding performances last season.
Vinicius Junior, who played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s rare La Liga and Champions League double, faces stiff competition from Rodri. Although Vinicius’s national team, Brazil, fell short at the Copa America, his club achievements have made him a favorite in the Ballon d’Or race.
Ederson stated, “I hope Vini Jr. wins it. He deserves it for everything he did last season,” during an interview with TNT Sports BR while on International duty. If successful, Vinicius would become the first player born in the 21st century to receive the prestigious award.
Interestingly, Rodri would also make history as the first player born in the 1990s to win the Ballon d’Or, a title that has been dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for over a decade. Luka Modric and Karim Benzema are the only other players born in the 1980s to have won the award in recent years.
Other contenders include Jude Bellingham, who has been instrumental in both Real Madrid’s success and England’s run to the Euro 2024 final. However, the odds for players like Dani Carvajal, Lamine Yamal, and Lautaro Martinez appear to be lengthening.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place in Paris on Monday, October 28.
