Audio By Carbonatix
A Ballon d'Or executive has denied the final rankings for this year's award were leaked amid claims Real Madrid are boycotting the ceremony.
Brazilian attacker Vinicius Junior was heavily regarded as the natural option to win the award for the world's best player of 2024 at Monday's ceremony, but it was claimed earlier in the day that the Madrid star will lose out to Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.
Madrid's collective outrage has resulted in the club boycotting the awards, with Vinicius and his team-mates and fellow contenders Dani Carvajal, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and Federico Valverde all refusing to attend.
However, Ballon d'Or executive Marc Las has spoken out to dismiss the rumours that the winner has already been announced, as he insisted that only two people are aware of the final results, and he is one of them.
"Only two people know the winner, me and the chief of France football. Anyone who says they know the winner or have a list is a liar," Las told L'Equipe.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony gets underway on Monday evening. As well as the best men's player, awards will be given out for the women's player of the year, as well as the top coaches across the men's and women's game among other prizes.
Latest Stories
-
Trump threatens to target Iran’s bridges and power plants if Hormuz attacks persist
23 minutes -
Ghana not yet in digital trust crisis, but warning signs are emerging – Kwami Tamakloe
27 minutes -
Digital trust crisis looming if fraud concerns are ignored – John Awuah warns
28 minutes -
Mamdani backs off pledge to arrest Netanyahu citing lack of authority
34 minutes -
Banks’ NPLs drop to 16.1%, but credit risk remains key vulnerability
35 minutes -
Business, consumer confidence positive – BoG
47 minutes -
We don’t have a trust crisis – BoG urges vigilance against rising digital fraud
54 minutes -
GIPC now an authority
59 minutes -
Mahama urges African leaders to turn health pledges into concrete investments
1 hour -
NPP Greater Accra Regional Organiser hopeful touts experience, grassroots mobilisation record
1 hour -
WHO warns Africa risks losing decades of health gains as external funding declines
2 hours -
Chief of Staff plants shea tree at Jubilee House to reaffirm government’s commitment to shea industry development
2 hours -
GCB Bank unlocks new pathway to credit with Tier 3 pension-backed loan
2 hours -
Mid-Year Budget: ‘MoU is not a payslip’ – Oppong Nkrumah questions gov’t jobs, economic claims
2 hours -
Prof Mills was ethical; some appointees exploited his weakness as his health declined – Prof Frimpong-Boateng
2 hours