Ballon d’Or winner ANNOUNCED

Vinicius Junior will pick up the Ballon d’Or gong, according to reports in Spain.

The Real Madrid attacker pitched in with 24 goals last season as his side won the Champions League and La Liga title.

His stunning form has made him the favourite for the most coveted award in football. And now AS in Spain has reported that that he has won.

Their report read today: “It was a matter of time. And the question now is whether he will not go away with time. But this Vinicius is Vinicius. A footballer who faces, faces and faces again, regardless of how he has fared in the previous one. Who splits defences with a hellish pace and needs little to score. A world star who, in eight days, will receive his first Ballon d’Or.”

READ MORE: Who will win Ballon d’Or 2024? Shortlist, favourites, latest odds, date and past winners

Vinicius Jr was already the favourite with the bookmakers to win the prestigious prize. His Real Madrid teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal were also in the running.

A report from last month in Marca said that sponsors Nike have already started plans to rebrand their Madrid store to celebrate Vini Jr’s win after the ceremony.

The Brazil international enjoyed a brilliant 2023-24 season and even netted in the 2-0 final win over Borussia Dortmund in the UCL final.

Ballon d’Or 2024

READ MORE: Real Madrid top scorers 2024/25

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday 28 October at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Last season’s winner was Lionel Messi, who led his national side to a World Cup victory in Qatar. The Argentine has won a record eight times, while Cristiano Ronaldo has won on five occasions.

Messi now, though, is in his twilight years. He is playing in the MLS for Inter Miami and it is unlikely he will be able to lead his side to another major trophy.

Ronaldo, likewise, is playing in Saudi Arabia, for Al-Nassr. The pair have won every year since Kaka’s 2007 win, bar once when Luka Modric picked up the award for leading Croatia to the World Cup final in Russia, where his national ultimately lost to France and a teenage Kylian Mbappe.