Vinicius favourite for Ballon d'Or in post-Messi/Ronaldo era / Photo: FRANCK FIFE - AFP/File
-
Gun salutes for King Charles III as he marks 77th birthday
-
Ford urges England to make their own New Zealand history
-
Acosta top in Valencia MotoGP practice as Martin returns
-
Michelle Yeoh to get honorary award at Berlin film fest
-
Bulgaria names manager to take over Russia's Lukoil refinery after US sanctions
-
Spain players on their way to becoming 'legendary': coach De la Fuente
-
US, Switzerland say reached deal on trade and tariffs
-
Saudi prince, eyeing defence pledge, to meet Trump after long US absence
-
Water shortage pushes Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan into energy crisis
-
Sinner completes perfect ATP Finals group stage by seeing off Shelton
-
Darge returns to Scotland starting side against Argentina
-
'Battling' McIlroy closes in on Race to Dubai title
-
Heyes says England need fans' help to seal 'massive' New Zealand win
-
Indigenous protest blocks entrance to UN climate summit
-
Russia strikes on Kyiv apartment blocks kill six, Ukraine says
-
Tanzania president announces inquiry into protest deaths
-
Parker failed drugs test on day of heavyweight defeat - promoter
-
UN rights council orders probe of atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher
-
Not magic but patience key to Bumrah's bowling masterclass
-
Parker failed drugs test before heavyweight clash with Wardley - promoter
-
Indigenous protest blocks entrance to UN COP30 climate summit
-
Japan beat Ghana in friendly to build World Cup momentum
-
'Time is running out': Serbia eyes winter energy crisis
-
Doctors in England launch strike over pay and jobs
-
Stocks sink on fears over tech rally, US rates
-
Santiago Carreras benched as Pumas ring changes for Scotland
-
Bumrah claims five as India seize advantage in first South Africa Test
-
Thais navigate flooded homes and ancient temples by boat
-
Second brother of French anti-drugs activist murdered: prosecutor
-
O'Neill still uncertain over Celtic future
-
BHP liable for 2015 Brazil mine disaster: UK court
-
Four killed in 'heinous' Russian attack on Ukraine: Zelensky
-
Germany unveils debt-laden budget, relief measures
-
Japan manga powerhouse 'Dragon Ball' launches store
-
Bumrah bags five as India bowl out South Africa for 159
-
Taiwan star Chen Bolin charged in conscription evasion probe
-
Duckett and Crawley on fire in England Ashes warm-up
-
Sumo grapples with ancient rule in age of woman PM
-
Cartier owner sales lifted by jewellery, improving Asia
-
Markets sink on concerns over tech rally, Fed rates
-
Over 500 economists, top experts call for G20 inequality panel
-
Four killed in 'calculated' Russian attack on Ukraine: Zelensky
-
What we know about deadly Delhi car blast
-
Sweden sees silent forests as sanctuaries from a noisy world
-
Ecuador to vote on foreign troops, constitutional reform
-
Italian fruit detective racing to save forgotten varieties
-
As AI data scrapers sap websites' revenues, some fight back
-
Peru's interim president embraces the spotlight in 'war' on crime
-
China retail sales grew at slowest pace in over a year
-
Tobacco conference to weigh up stubbing out cigarette butts
NYSE - LSE
| RBGPF | -3.73% | 75.65 | $ | |
| RYCEF | -3.45% | 14.5 | $ | |
| CMSD | 0.36% | 23.93 | $ | |
| SCS | -0.42% | 15.555 | $ | |
| CMSC | -0.19% | 23.785 | $ | |
| RIO | -0.01% | 71.03 | $ | |
| NGG | -0.9% | 77.39 | $ | |
| GSK | -0.6% | 47.4399 | $ | |
| AZN | 0.53% | 89.08 | $ | |
| BCC | -0.3% | 68.97 | $ | |
| RELX | -0.46% | 41.23 | $ | |
| JRI | -0.32% | 13.593 | $ | |
| VOD | -0.77% | 12.315 | $ | |
| BCE | -1.38% | 22.795 | $ | |
| BTI | -1.38% | 53.74 | $ | |
| BP | 1% | 36.355 | $ |
Vinicius favourite for Ballon d'Or in post-Messi/Ronaldo era
The elite of world football will gather in Paris on Monday for the Ballon d'Or ceremony, with Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior the leading candidate for the men's award and Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati the hot favourite to win her second-successive crown.
The men's shortlist for the 2023/24 edition of the prestigious individual award is the first since 2003 to feature neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo who hoovered up the prize 13 times between them.
Vinicius, the man who inherited Ronaldo's number seven shirt at Real Madrid, has been tipped by many pundits to succeed Messi as the Men's Ballon d'Or after a season in which he won the Spanish championship and Champions League.
"Vinicius is going to win (the Ballon d'Or)," Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti declared after his player netted a hat-trick in a 5-2 Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund last week.
"And not because of the three goals but because of his character. He's extraordinary."
If the 24-year-old Brazilian showed why he is expected to take Messi's crown in Madrid's stunning comeback midweek, he was less influential in Saturday's La Liga Clasico as Real were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Barcelona.
But Vinicius' six goals last term were vital as Madrid lifted their 15th Champions League, with the attacker scoring a brace in the semi-final and a goal in the final.
Vinicius has also become a figurehead in the fight against racism after being targeted on numerous occasions since arriving in Spain in 2018.
He earned worldwide support in May 2023 when he squared off with Valencia supporters after suffering abuse at their Mestalla Stadium.
The players expected to challenge Vinicius for the Ballon d'Or are club-mate and England star Jude Bellingham, as well as Manchester City and Spain's Euro 2024-winning midfield general Rodri.
Also among the list of nominees are goal machines Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal has an outside shot, after a season which saw him lift the treble of La Liga, Champions League and European Championship.
In the Women's Ballon d'Or, 26-year-old Barcelona and Spain playmaker Bonmati is expected to retain the title she claimed for the first time last season.
She was again the outstanding player in a team which won its first continental quadruple of domestic league and cup, Spanish Supercopa and Champions League.
Barcelona's dominance of the women's game is reflected in the number of nominees the Catalan club boasts, with attackers Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo considered the two principal threats to their club-mate Bonmati.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place in the centre of Paris on Monday where the winners, as decided by an international jury of football journalists, will be announced.
P.Santos--AMWN
