Former Barcelona midfielder Emmanuel Petit thinks Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. will win the 2024 men's Ballon d'Or. The award, presented by French magazine France Football, is widely considered the highest individual honor in professional football.
France Football released the nominees for the 2024 Ballon d'Or on September 4. While the list contains superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Rodri, and Lautaro Martinez, modern greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were both absent for the first time since 2003.
Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal was also nominated after his stellar displays for the club and the Spanish national team in the 2023-24 season. Talking about the La Masia graduate's prospects of winning, Petit declared that he thinks Yamal will win one in the future.
However, the former Barcelona player predicted Vinicius Jr. to win the Ballon d'Or in 2024.
"I think it will be Vinicius. But for the next season, yes. He [Lamine Yamal] won the Eurocup with Spain, was one of the best players in the competition, and since he started last season with Barcelona, he has been steadily improving," Petit said (via FC Barcelona Noticias).
Vinicius Jr. was instrumental for Real Madrid in the 2023-24 season, winning the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and Supercopa de Espana with Los Blancos. The Brazilian ended the season with 24 goals and 11 assists from 39 games across competitions.
However, Vinicius Jr. didn't impress at the Copa America 2024, scoring just twice in three games as Brazil were eliminated by Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
Lamine Yamal, meanwhile, won Euro 2024 with Spain, recording four assists and scoring a crucial goal against France in the semi-final. He was also stellar for the Catalan club last season, scoring seven goals and assisting nine in 50 games across competitions.
When France Football apologized to Barcelona lagend Andres Iniesta for not giving him a Ballon d'Or
In April 2018, France Football editor Pascal Ferre publicly apologized to Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta for never being able to award the Ballon d'Or to the Spaniard. Andres Iniesta is widely considered one of the greatest players to have never won the coveted award.
The Spaniard came the closest to winning the award in 2010, ranking second behind teammate Lionel Messi. Iniesta won the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Spain that year, scoring an extra-time winner (116') in the final for La Roja.
Shortly before Iniesta left the Catalan club, Pascal Ferre issued a public apology, stating:
"Forgive us, Andres. For us, he wasn't just a player. He was the player. His sacrifices for the team ultimately deprived him of greater individual recognition."
He continued:
"Of all the absences on the list of Ballon d'Or winners, his is particularly painful."
Some favorites to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or include Vinicius Jr., Rodri, Lautaro Martinez, and Jude Bellingham. It will be interesting to see who bags the awards on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
