Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has expressed his belief that Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is the most deserving player to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
With the award ceremony scheduled for October, Martinelli is backing his compatriot for football’s highest individual honor.
Among the 30 nominees for the prestigious prize are top talents like Manchester City’s Rodri, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Dani Carvajal—who helped Spain win the Euros.
Rodri, another key figure in Spain’s victory, is widely tipped as a favorite for the award.
However, Martinelli is confident that Vinicius Junior stands out as the ideal candidate. Speaking to Marca, Martinelli stated, “In my opinion, he deserves to win the Ballon d’Or.
It’s a great pride to play with Vini. I see a special boy who deserves it. I feel very happy as a Brazilian to see his moment and he deserves it.”
As the football world awaits the announcement, current holder Lionel Messi, who has claimed the award a record eight times, will likely pass the torch, and many are curious if Rodri or Vinicius Junior will be crowned the next Ballon d’Or winner.
