Shocking twist as Real Madrid could skip the Ballon d'Or gala as Vinicius Jr. is not expected to win

We are just a few hours away from finding out who will win the 2024 Ballon d'Or. The ceremony is scheduled to begin in an hour.

Ahead of this ceremony, Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Manchester City's Rodri have emerged as the two favorites.

A few days ago, a win for Vinicius was almost taken for granted after his great performances in the 2023/24 season.

But in the hours before the Ballon d'Or gala, many media outlets began to claim that Rodri could emerge as a surprise winner.

Doubt creeps into Vinicius' camp

With only a few hours left until the final result, tension seems to have reached Vinicius Junior's camp.

According to Fabrice Hawkins, Vinicius' entourage believes the Brazilian will not win the Ballon d'Or this year.

This is a significant development that reinforces earlier rumors of a possible win for Rodri.

The Manchester City midfielder was by far the best midfielder in Europe last season, notably securing the Premier League title and the European Championship.

Vinicius also won the Champions League and La Liga titles, and the Real Madrid camp had taken his Ballon d'Or triumph for granted.

However, recent reports suggest otherwise. In fact, RMC Sport suggests that even the Real Madrid camp believes the Brazilian may not win the prestigious trophy.

Therefore, Real Madrid's delegation is expected to skip the event in protest against the decision. Further details are expected to be announced in the next few hours as the Ballon d'Or gala begins.