In the recent 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, Spain’s Rodri claimed the top spot in Paris, yet Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Junior was the preferred choice across many African nations. Poll data published by France Football revealed that journalists in Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Egypt, and Senegal overwhelmingly supported Vinicius as the world’s best player, with 12 out of 22 African journalists placing him at number one. Only Gabon, Ghana, and South Africa aligned with the global vote for Rodri.
The prestigious Ballon d’Or award is determined by votes from 100 journalists, each representing FIFA’s top 100 nations. These journalists select their top five players from a shortlist of 30 elite athletes. This year’s poll placed Vinicius Junior as the clear African favorite, marking his influence across the continent despite narrowly missing the top honor to Rodri.
2024 Ballon d’Or Rankings:
- Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
- Vinicius Jr. (Brazil, Real Madrid)
- Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
- Dani Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid)
- Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
… (continues through to 30)