Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was told he would win the 2024 Ballon d'Or and had reserved a space in his display case for the trophy, according to social media posts by the brother of Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso.
The details were published on Instagram by Rafa Hermoso almost two years after the ceremony in Paris before being deleted, with screenshots of the post subsequently reported by Spanish newspaper AS and CNN Brasil.
According to the account shared by Rafa Hermoso, Vinicius Junior had invited guests to dinner at his home when he broke the news that he had been notified of his victory. The Brazilian player believed he would receive the top individual prize presented by France Football and had already prepared a location in his display cabinet to store the trophy.
The Ballon d'Or is an annual football award presented by French news publication France Football to honor the world's best player, determined by a panel of international journalists.
Symbolic trophy exchange plan
Rafa Hermoso stated that his sister, Spain international forward Jenni Hermoso, and Vinicius Junior had agreed on a symbolic exchange of trophies during the gala. Under their planned script, Jenni Hermoso was set to present the men's Ballon d'Or to Vinicius Junior, while he would present her award to her on stage.
Jenni Hermoso was scheduled to receive the Socrates Award, an accolade created to recognize footballers involved in social initiatives and humanitarian causes. Her recognition followed her public complaint against former Royal Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales.
However, the planned arrangement was never carried out. After learning that Vinicius Junior would not be named the winner, the entire Real Madrid delegation, including the forward, chose not to attend the event in Paris. Former Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba ultimately presented the Socrates Award to Jenni Hermoso on stage.
Rodri claims award
Spain midfielder Rodri was ultimately announced as the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, finishing ahead of Vinicius Junior in the voting. The result generated strong public reaction, driven by expectations that the Brazilian would win following a successful season with Real Madrid.
Information gathered by AS from people close to Rodri indicated that the Manchester City player was unaware he would win prior to the announcement. The report noted that Rodri only began to seriously consider the possibility of winning after learning that Real Madrid had decided not to travel to Paris.
Nominees for 2026 award
Vinicius Junior has again been nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2026. He features on the shortlist for the best male player category alongside fellow Brazilian international players Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal and Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain.
