Ballon d’Or Awards LIVE: Latest updates as Rodri tries to upset Vinicius Jr. for the top prize

There was a goalkeeper, Lev Yashin, and three defenders, with Fabio Cannavaro more of a stopper than German midfielders Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer, who were converted into sweepers. But there has never been a defensive midfielder. The Ballon d’Or is almost seven decades old and Rodri, the man who gave Manchester City their first Champions League title, could be a history maker in other ways.

But then why should he? The Ballon d’Or was usually reserved for strikers and talented players. His job description entails selflessness. The defensive midfielder is built to enable others to achieve glory. And yet the paradox of Rodri is that he has reached such a standard and achieved so much himself for his respective teams that he is back in the spotlight.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or award ceremony will take place today. The best in men’s and women’s football gather for an evening of awards and celebration at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Considered the industry’s most prestigious awards ceremony, this is a night where legends are born, joining the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the pantheon of greatness.

This year sees the introduction of two new awards: Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year, joining a full list headlined by the Ballon d’Or and Ballon d’Or Feminin awards.

Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Rodri are widely considered favorites for the men’s prize in a year that is incredibly likely to see a winner crowned for the first time, after Messi and Ronaldo won 13 of the previous 15 awards.

After winning LaLiga and the Champions League, Vinicius and Bellingham have a shared advantage over Rodri, who is a surprise candidate given his position as a defensive midfielder. Vinicius scored 21 goals and nine assists in La Liga and the Champions League, while Bellingham enjoyed an impressive debut season at the Bernabeu, including a string of crucial late winners that kept Madrid in the hunt for the title.

Vinicius Jr. will reportedly not travel to Paris for the ceremony tonight, reports Fabrizio Romano.

The same report confirms that no one from Real Madrid will attend the glamorous ceremony in Paris as the Spanish giants internally believe Vinicius Jr. will not win the Ballon d’Or.

The jackpot appears to be going elsewhere, with Florentino Pérez, Carlo Ancelotti, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal all opting to stay at home.