Vinicius Junior favourite for Ballon d'Or in post-Messi and Ronaldo era

The world’s top football talent will convene in Paris on Monday for the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior (24) is the frontrunner for the men’s award, while Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (26) is favored to secure her second consecutive title. This year’s men’s shortlist marks the first since 2003 without Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, who collectively won the award 13 times.

Vinicius, the man who inherited Ronaldo’s number seven shirt at Real Madrid, has been tipped by many pundits to succeed Messi as the Men’s Ballon d’Or after a season in which he won the Spanish championship and Champions League.

“Vinicius is going to win (the Ballon d’Or),” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti declared after his player netted a hat-trick in a 5-2 Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund last week.

“And not because of the three goals but because of his character. He’s extraordinary.”

If the Brazilian showed why he is expected to take Messi’s crown in Madrid’s stunning comeback midweek, he was less influential in Saturday’s LaLiga Clasico as Real were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Barcelona

But Vinicius’ six goals last term were vital as Madrid lifted their 15th Champions League, with the attacker scoring a brace in the semi-final and a goal in the final.

Vinicius has also become a figurehead in the fight against racism after being targeted on numerous occasions since arriving in Spain in 2018.

He earned worldwide support in May 2023 when he squared off with Valencia supporters after suffering abuse at their Mestalla Stadium.

The players expected to challenge Vinicius for the Ballon d’Or are club-mate and England star Jude Bellingham, as well as Manchester City and Spain’s Euro 2024-winning midfield general Rodri.

Also among the list of nominees are goal machines Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.

Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal has an outside chance at the award after a season in which he helped his team secure a treble, winning LaLiga, the Champions League, and the European Championship.

In the Women’s Ballon d’Or, Barcelona and Spain playmaker Aitana Bonmati is favored to defend the title she won last season. She was a standout player on a team that achieved a historic continental quadruple, including the domestic league and cup, the Spanish Supercopa, and the Champions League.

Barcelona’s dominance in women’s football is evident in their number of nominees, with attackers Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo posing significant competition to Bonmati.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in central Paris on Monday, where the winners, selected by an international panel of football journalists, will be announced.