Real Madrid star to be awarded the Ballon d'Or this month - Reports

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior is set to receive the 2024 Ballon d'Or, according to a report by Diario AS (via CentreGoals). The Brazilian forward was included in the list of nominees that was released by UEFA on September 4.

Vinicius had an outstanding 2023-24 campaign for Los Blancos and is one of the favorites for the prestigious individual honor. He scored 29 goals and registered 11 assists in 39 appearances for Real Madrid last season. Vinicius played a pivotal role in attack, helping his side win the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League title and 2023-24 LaLiga.

France Football, the organizers of the Ballon d'Or, recently released the criteria for choosing the winner of the award.

Vinicius is in contention for the award with 29 other players, including Real Madrid teammates Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal.

A brief overview of some other Ballon d'Or contenders

One of the leading contenders for the Ballon d'Or is Rodri. The Spaniard was brilliant for Manchester City last season as he registered 23 goal contributions in 50 appearances. His performances in defensive midfield were crucial for City as they secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title last season.

Another key contender is Jude Bellingham, who had a fantastic debut season with Los Blancos. He netted 23 goals and registered 13 assists in 42 appearances for the club. He was also a part of the England team which reached the final of the 2024 European Championships.

Carvajal is also one of the leading contenders, as he was a pivotal player in defense for Real Madrid. The Spaniard registered 11 goal contributions in 41 games for the Los Blancos, including a crucial goal in Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the 2023-24 Champions League final.

Rodri and Caravajal also won the European Championships this summer with Spain.