The 2024 Best FIFA Award winner 'leaked' just hours before ceremony with Lionel Messi set to miss out
The best footballers in the world will be crowned on Tuesday night at the FIFA Best Awards in Doha - and the winner of men's award has been leaked just hours before the official ceremony is due to begin.
While Manchester City star Rodri claimed the prestigious Ballon d'Or back in October, FIFA will hand out its own rival award this evening in Qatar.
The Best awards have been given out by FIFA since 2017 after its partnership with France Football for the Ballon d'Or award ended the previous year.
Rodri beat Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr to the 2024 Ballon d'Or to the anger of the Spanish club, who boycotted the award ceremony in Paris.
Advert
But there will no such protest this evening, with Vinicius Jr set to claim the top men's prize at FIFA Awards.
Brazilian outlet Ge Globe claim Vinicius Jr will be given the men's award ahead of Rodri and nine other nominees; Dani Carvajal, Erling Haaland, Federico Valverde, Florian Wirtz, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi and Toni Kroos.
Inter Miami star Messi is the current holder of the award, having claimed it last year for a record third time.
Vinicius Jr will join Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka in an exclusive list of Brazilians to win a top individual prize in the various formats of the FIFA awards.
The 24-year-old is set to become the first Brazilian to win an award for the best player in the world since Kaka claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2007.
Vinicius Jr scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists last season as Real Madrid won both the Champions League and La Liga titles.
The Spanish giants are currently in Qatar to play in the final of the Intercontinental Cup against Mexican side Pachuca on Wednesday.
Real Madrid reacted with fury after Vinicius Jr missed out on the Ballon d'Or earlier this year, pulling all of their players and staff out of attending the event in protest.
After Rodri was confirmed as the winner, Vinicius posted on X: "I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready."
"If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner," Real Madrid added in a statement to AFP and Spanish media.
"As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d'Or-Uefa does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected."
Vinicius Jr is expected to attend the FIFA Best ceremony to collect his award.
2024 Best FIFA Men's Player award nominees
- Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid and Spain)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City and Norway)
- Federico Valverde (Real Madrid and Uruguay)
- Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen and Germany)
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England)
- Kylian Mbappe (PSG/Real Madrid and France)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami and Argentina)
- Rodri (Manchester City and Spain)
- Toni Kroos (Real Madrid and Germany - now retired)
- Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid and Brazil)
Topics: Ballon d'Or, Rodri, Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Football, FIFA
Rory O'Callaghan