Real Madrid and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior emerged as Africa’s top choice for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, according to voting data published by France Football. Although Spanish midfielder Rodri ultimately claimed the award in a glamorous Paris ceremony last month, Vinicius was overwhelmingly favored by journalists across the African continent.
In countries such as Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Cape Verde, and Senegal, Vinicius led the polls. Out of 22 African journalists who voted, 12 ranked him first, while only Gabon, Ghana, and South Africa chose Rodri as their top pick.
The Ballon d’Or results, determined by 100 journalists from FIFA’s top-ranked member nations, are a reflection of each journalist’s top five choices from a 30-person shortlist. France Football, which organizes the annual award, published the results showing Africa’s clear support for Vinicius as one of the world’s best, even as the official title went to Rodri.
