After the Ballon d'Or disappointment, Los Blancos want recognition for some of their stars, including Vini, Bellingham and Mbappe.
Real Madrid sees a golden opportunity to cure the sting of the Ballon d'Or. The FIFA The Best Awards for 2024, which honor achievements throughout the calendar year, could serve as the perfect salve. This year's nominees consist of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos (retired) and Kylian Mbappé, who split his year between Paris Saint-Germain and Madrid. However, looming above them all is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner Rodri. His excellent UEFA Euro campaign adds weight to his candidacy and presents a formidable challenge for Vinicius.
Why Real Madrid sees The Best Awards as “fairer”.
Unlike the Ballon d'Or, which relies on votes from journalists in FIFA's top 100 countries, the Best Awards use a four-tier voting system. Equal weight (25%) will be given to votes from fans via FIFA.com (open until December 10), national team captains, national team coaches and specialist journalists. This democratized approach has resonated with Real Madrid, whose leadership has expressed dissatisfaction with the Ballon d'Or process, especially after Vinicius and the club were conspicuously absent from the ceremony in Paris in October.
Florentino Pérez, the club's president, even highlighted this dissatisfaction in his speech to the Madrid Assembly, criticizing the Ballon d'Or's opaque voting system and perceived biases. For Real Madrid, The Best represents not only a chance for recognition, but also a way to make peace after what many at the club saw as an unjust censure.
The stakes for Vinicius Jr
Often the face of Madrid's attack, Vinicius is the club's best hope for individual glory. After being overshadowed by Rodri at the Ballon d'Or, securing The Best would be a significant personal triumph. Winning this award would also mark a shift in recent trends: since 2020, only Lionel Messi has managed to win both awards in the same year, with The Best often diverging from the Ballon d'Or.
Rodri's historic opportunity
For Rodri this is more than an award; it is an opportunity to make history. If he wins, he would become the first Spanish-born player to win The Best since its inception in 2016. No Spanish player has even reached the podium as a finalist, making his candidacy particularly groundbreaking.
The Manchester City midfielder's eye-catching performances at the European Championship cement his status as a frontrunner, but he will have to surpass competitors such as Vini, Messi, Haaland and rising star Lamine Yamal, who continues to shine in his meteoric career.
Coaching showdown: Ancelotti vs. De la Fuente
The Best Awards will also see Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti take on Spain coach Luis de la Fuente for the title of Best Coach of 2024. Ancelotti, known for his tactical prowess, will face stiff competition from De la Fuente, whose tenure with Spain has been remarkable. success.
This battle between club and country adds another layer of intrigue to the ceremony.
When are the FIFA Best Awards 2024?
While for some the anticipation is palpable, and others don't care, FIFA has not yet announced the date for the 2024 Best Awards. With tensions running high and the stakes set to be even higher, fans around the world will soon find out if Real Madrid's stars… and its manager – can rewrite the story and bring home the recognition they think to have earned.
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