Vinicius Junior emerges as a top contender for the Ballon d'Or in the era following Messi and Ronaldo

The pinnacle of global football will convene in Paris on Monday for the Ballon d'Or ceremony, where Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior emerges as the frontrunner for the men's award, while Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati is poised to claim her second consecutive title.

This year's men's shortlist for the prestigious accolade marks the first instance since 2003 that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo is included, a duo that collectively secured the award 13 times.

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Vinicius, who has taken on Ronaldo's iconic number seven jersey at Real Madrid, is widely regarded by analysts as the likely successor to Messi for the Men's Ballon d'Or, following a season in which he contributed to Real Madrid's triumph in both the Spanish league and the Champions League.

"Vinicius is destined to win the Ballon d'Or," asserted Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti after the player achieved a hat-trick in a recent 5-2 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund. "And it's not solely due to the three goals; it's also about his remarkable character. He is exceptional."

While Vinicius demonstrated his potential to inherit Messi's legacy during Madrid's impressive midweek comeback, his impact was less pronounced in Saturday's LaLiga Clasico, where Real suffered a significant 4-0 defeat to Barcelona.

Nonetheless, his six goals last season were crucial in securing Madrid's 15th Champions League title, with the forward netting twice in the semi-final and once in the final. Additionally, Vinicius has emerged as a prominent advocate against racism, having faced abuse multiple times since his arrival in Spain in 2018. He garnered international support in May 2023 when he confronted Valencia fans following an incident of racial abuse at their Mestalla Stadium.

Challengers for the Ballon d'Or alongside Vinicius include his teammate Jude Bellingham, the England star, and Manchester City's Rodri, who played a pivotal role in Spain's Euro 2024 victory. Other notable nominees include prolific scorers Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe.

Real Madrid's right-back, Dani Carvajal, has a slim chance of recognition following a season in which he celebrated victories in LaLiga, the Champions League, and the European Championship.

In the Women's Ballon d'Or category, Barcelona and Spain's playmaker, Bonmati, is anticipated to defend the title she secured for the first time last year. She was a standout performer on a team that achieved its inaugural continental quadruple, comprising the domestic league, cup, Spanish Supercopa, and Champions League.

Barcelona's supremacy in women's football is evident in the number of nominees from the club, with forwards Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo identified as the primary challengers to Bonmati.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled to occur in central Paris on Monday, where the winners, determined by an international panel of football journalists, will be revealed.

SportsLigue