A significant change has reportedly been made to the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony, which could impact South Africa's No. 1 Ronwen Williams.
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The Ballon d'Or is gearing up for a thrilling climax as the 2024 winner is set to be unveiled at the prestigious ceremony on 28 October.
This year marks a monumental shift in the footballing landscape, as neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi will be in contention for the award for the first time in 21 years – a true sign of a new era.
Alongside the illustrious Ballon d'Or and the Ballon d'Or Feminin winners, fans will also eagerly await the announcement of the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best men's player under 21, and the Yashin Trophy for the world's top goalkeeper, for which Mamelodi Sundowns shot-stopper Williams is in contention.
In the men's category, Manchester City's midfield maestro Rodri looks poised for a fierce battle with Real Madrid's dynamic duo Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior.
Excitement is mounting in Paris as significant changes to the ceremony format promise to heighten the drama.
Historically, the winner was tipped off in advance by France Football, the organisers of the ceremony, creating an air of predictability. Rumours have even surfaced about potential leaks regarding this year's winner.
However, as reported by Mario Cortegana of the The Athletic, the surprise element has returned.
Instead of the winners of the night being interviewed by France Football before the ceremony, they will only discuss their triumph with the organisers after claiming the accolade.
This ensures the award winners will only find out they have won when their name is called on stage on the night.
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With an outstanding 2023/24 season under his belt, which included him winning the LALIGA, UEFA Champions League, and Spanish Super Cup titles, Vinicius has emerged as the favourite to take home the men's award.
