Ballon d'Or 2024 LIVE: Winner decided and Full Top 30 as Real Madrid BOYCOTT ceremony
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has been the favourite to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or after helping the team win the Champions League last season, with the winner to be announced tonight - but now there's shock news ahead of the ceremony
by Alex Richards · The MirrorReal Madrid have decided to BOYCOTT tonight's Ballon d'Or ceremony.
Vinicius Junior has been the favourite to claim the award won by Lionel Messi last year after a standout season - with neither Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo on the 30-man shortlist.
The Brazil international scored 24 times in all competitions last season, including in the Champions League final, as Madrid won La Liga and claimed top honours in Europe. But there is anger in Madrid and he and the club's entire entourage are NOT attending the shindig at the Theatre de Chatelet in Paris - seemingly because he hasn't won.
A Madrid statement was subsequently released taking aim at organisers and claiming they'd been 'disrespected'.
That leaves the stage open for Manchester City star Rodri, who helped his team win the league before playing his part in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, to land the big prize.
Mirror Football will have all the latest for you as we draw closer to learning the identity of the winner, with plenty of other awards also being handed out over the course of the evening.
19:41Alex Richards
The hosts are here
Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba and French-British journalist Sandy Heribert pose upon arrival.
They're the two hosts tonight.
How did Didier get that gig!?
19:26Kit Mann
Hello Emi!
The 2023 Yachine Trophy winner, Aston Villa's Emi Martinez is back on the red carpet.
He's not going to land that gong in 2024 again is he?
If he does, you can guarantee he'll be telling everyone he's still the world's best 'keeper!*
(* Ed - Very Debatable)
19:12Alex Richards
The Kopa kid ready for his award
If it doesn't go to Lamine Yamal, well I don't know what we'd say.
Probably all go on strike I reckon.
Anyway, the Barcelona phenom is here with his family. What a year he's had.
19:10Alex Richards
Garnacho on the red carpet
It's been a difficult day at Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag being sacked.
But Alejandro Garnacho is in Paris tonight for the awards.
Here he is on the red carpet... not exactly looking happy.
19:07Alex Richards
How England's stars have fared so far
Here's how the England Men's and Women's stars have done so far in the respetive awards.
Men's
- Declan Rice 26th
- Cole Palmer 25th
- Bukayo Saka 21st
- Phil Foden 11th
Women’s
- Lauren Hemp 28th
- Lucy Bronze 20th
- Lauren James 13th
18:46KEY EVENT
Real Madrid statement on tonight's Boycott
Real Madrid have released a statement on their decision to boycott tonight's ceremony.
It reads: "If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.
"As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d'Or-Uefa does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected."
I mean. Grow up.
18:42Alex Richards
No Haaland in Paris
There's no Erling Haaland in Paris tonight.
He's skipping it but he's not in Manchester either.
Instead, the City striker has gone back to Sweden to attend Malmo vs Göteborg.
18:26Conor Mummery
Full 20-11
Alright we're heading down to the Top 10 now.
Here's the full run through of placed 20-11.
Gazza's choice, Phil Foden, in at No.11.
17:51Alex Richards
Cisse in the house!
How does Djibril Cisse get invited ain't I don't?
Probably because he's still treated as something of a conquering hero in France.
And look at that outfit! Suit and bow tie? No way!
What a guy!
17:32Alex Richards
Granit Xhaka at No.16!
And at No.16, it's Granit Xhaka.
The ex-Arsenal captain had a stellar year at Bayer Leverkusen.
He's come out ahead of a load of his former team-mates.
Congrats to him.
17:27Alex Richards
Places 20-17 determined
Right then.
Hakan Calhanoglou, who fancies himself as the best holding midfielder in the world, comes in at No.20. To be fair to the Inter Milan star, he's a top player.
At 19 is Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard and at No.18 is Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Another South American, Real Madrid's Fede Valverde, is No.17 this year.
17:03Kit Mann
Race for Women's Ballon d'Or
We're already down to No.10 in the countdown for the women's top prize.
Here's places 15-11:
17:00Alex Richards
Frank Lebouef's left-field choice
Frank Lebouef has gone quite left-field with his pick for tonight's winner.
He's told SafestCasinoSites.co.uk:
“I’m talking about Carvajal, who won the Champions League, La Liga, and the European Championship. I don’t like the Ballon d’Or, but I would love to see him winning the Ballon d’Or just because he’s a type of right back from our generation, he’s a warrior.”
Just imagine if there's been all this Real Madrid outcry and Carvajal were to be the shock winner!
16:56KEY EVENT
Bukayo Saka at No.21 this year
More rankings - with plenty of Premier League representation here.
Cole Palmer is No.25 and William Saliba at No.24.
Manchester City's Ruben Dias is in at No.23, with Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger is No.22.
And Bukayo Saka, the Arsenal winger, is at No.21.
16:53Alex Richards
Here comes the list!
OK coming through thick and fast.
The Top 30 is starting to be named in order.
Here's joint 29th to 26th - with Arsenal and England's Declan Rice at No.26.
16:49Alex Richards
Ballon d'Or Organisers have their say
France Football, who run the Ballon d'Or, have issued a very short statement in light of all this Real Madrid drama.
They've obviously been asked the question given the Spanish side's decision not to attend.
It states, simply: “No player and no club knows the winner of this year’s Ballon d'Or yet.”
Going to be very, very funny if Vini Jr has indeed won. Seemingly, that's not what Madrid believe is going to happen - seemingly it's not what they've been told.
16:14Alex Richards
Paul Gascoigne names his winner
Want to know who Gazza thinks should take the top prize tonight?
Well he's told SafestCasinoSites.co.uk that Phil Foden is his pick.
“So Phil Foden has got every opportunity but they were all raving about Jude Bellingham too.
"I'd probably give it to Foden, because that guy's unbelievable. The way sometimes he can just turn it on is incredible. He glides past players. He's really got that drop of the shoulder.”
Got some bad news for you there Paul, I'm afraid.
16:06KEY EVENT
Real Madrid's big SNUB - Full Story
Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Florentino Perez and the entire Real Madrid entourage WILL NOT attend tonight.
The word is they've heard the Brazilian is not taking the top honour. Instead, it is going to Manchester City's Rodri.
And, therefore, they're sitting out in protest.
15:51Alex Richards
Here comes the Barca boys!
Real Madrid might be snubbing the ceremony in protest - but Barcelona are here.
Fresh from their 4-0 thumping of Los Blancos in Saturday night's Clasico, the Blaugrana contingent have arrived in Paris to support teen sensation Lamine Yamal, a certainty for the Kopa Award.
The question is whether Yamal makes the top 3 for the main prize too?
15:28Alex Richards
Previous Winners!
I mean, it's quite the list.
Just look at that Messi-Ronaldo domination.
We'll probably never experience anything like that again.
15:23KEY EVENT
Which awards are being handed out today?
It's not just the best male player in the world getting crowned today.
The Ballon d'Or Feminin will also crown a winner, with Aitana Bonmati in contention again after victory in 2023.
Bonmati's Barcelona team-mate Caroline Graham Hansen is also in the mix, while the charge from outside Europe is led by Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson after they starred in the United States' Olympic gold medal triumph.
A number of further awards will be handed out, including the Kopa Trophy for the best player under the age of 21, and the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper in the world.
There's Premier League interest in both of those categories, with Emi Martinez among 10 goalkeepers nominated and Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Savinho among the young players hoping to compete with runaway favourite Lamine Yamal.
15:11KEY EVENT
Real Madrid's Furious decision!
So big news coming out of Madrid!
Real Madrid believe Vinicius Jr has NOT won the trophy. Seemingly they've had word.
And with that, they've elected not to travel. Not just him, but the whole contingent, including Jude Bellingham and president Florentino Perez.
I mean, you didn't think they'd take it well did you?
15:08Tom Victor
Mirror Football writers pick their winner
Ahead of this evening's action, Mirror Football's team has predicted what might transpire.
We've picked our top three, in order, and not everyone has gone with Vinicius Junior.
You can read everyone's justifications here, with justifications for Rodri or Bellingham beating the Brazilian.
15:08Tom Victor
Who will wil the 2024 Ballon d'Or?
Vinicius Junior has been the favourite for this year's award, at least according to the bookmakers, where he has been odds-on to triumph.
Rodri's ACL injury has left the Spaniard out of the spotlight this season, but he remains the second-favourite in most places.
Behind the Manchester City man are four La Liga stars, though Mbappe's inclusion is based on his displays for Paris Saint-Germain and France last term.
Mbappe sits fifth, with Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal considered more likely winners, while there has also been backing for Spain and Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal after his pair of trophies.
15:08Tom Victor
Good afternoon!
Hello and welcome to Mirror Football's live coverage of the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
We'll be bringing you all the latest from Paris throughout the afternoon and evening.
Stay with us for all the updates you need.