Ballon d’Or gets new rule

France Football, the organizers of the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards, are introducing a change in their protocol for the winner this year.

As anticipation builds ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 28, a new rule is set to alter the way the winner is informed.

In previous years, the winner was interviewed by France Football before the event, allowing them to know in advance that they had won.

However, according to Mario Cortegana, a correspondent for The Athletic, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner will only find out when the envelope is opened live during the ceremony.

With just over two weeks to go, speculation is rife about who will take home football’s most coveted individual prize.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is heavily tipped to win, with many considering him the frontrunner after his stellar performances last season, helping Los Blancos secure both LaLiga and Champions League titles.

He faces competition from top names like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Manchester City’s Rodri.