Real Madrid believes Manchester City midfielder Rodri will be announced later today as the winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or Vinicius Junior to the award.

The Brazil international, 24, is not expected to attend Monday’s ceremony in Paris pending the outcome. Madrid’s director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueno, will also not travel to the event, which will now have no club representation.

Should he win, 28-year-old Rodri would be rewarded after winning the Premier League title with City and the 2024 European Championship with Spain.

Many thought that Vinicius Jr. would win the award after scoring 24 goals in the 2023/24 season, helping Madrid win three trophies including La Liga and the Champions League.

He scored six Champions League goals, including in the final against Borussia Dortmund and twice against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, while scoring four against Barcelona in the home leg.

A win for Rodri would be the first for a Premier League player since 2008, when Cristiano Ronaldo, then of Manchester United, won the first of his five crowns.