"He had an impressive season" - Manchester City star Ruben Dias picks 2024 Ballon d'Or winner 

Manchester City star Ruben Dias has backed his teammate Rodri to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or. The prestigious award ceremony will be held in Paris, France, on Monday, October 28.

Rodri’s main competition for the Ballon d’Or is Vinicius Junior, who himself had an exceptional season with Real Madrid. Vinicius scored 24 goals and provided nine assists in 39 appearances, helping Los Blancos secure both the La Liga and Champions League titles.

Vinicius has continued his impressive form this season. He has already netted eight goals, including a hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund to lift Real Madrid from a 2-0 deficit to a 5-2 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, Rodri has a notable advantage in terms of achievements with the national team. While Vinicius had a disappointing Copa America with Brazil, the Manchester City star earned the Player of the Tournament at the Euros, playing a key role in Spain's success.

Ruben Dias certainly believes his teammate’s consistency at both club and international levels makes him more deserving of the Ballon d’Or than Vinicius.

“Rodri should win the Ballon d’Or! He had an impressive season. Not one, many in a row. He won the Euros, which is not found in every generation. Without a doubt a special player," he said (via Fabrizio Romano on X).

Although Rodri ended last season on a high note, he has appeared only three times this season due to multiple injuries. He made his first start in September after recovering from an injury sustained in the Euro final, only to suffer an ACL tear during Manchester City’s clash with Arsenal. As a result, the 28-year-old has been ruled out for the season, which potentially affects his Ballon d’Or chances.

Arsenal legend backs Rodri to win Ballon d’Or over Vinicius Junior

Former Arsenal and Barcelona forward Thierry Henry has expressed his preference for Rodri to win the Ballon d’Or over Vinicius. He noted that the Spaniard was central to the success of both his club and country, comparing his performances to those of Andres Iniesta and Xavi during their time at Barcelona.

"Rodri, because I wanted the Xavi and the [Andres] Iniesta when they were performing, people forget about the midfielders and what they do. They’re the heart of the team and he was the heart of Man City, I know they didn’t win the Champions League, but he won the Euros," he told CBS Sports (via Manchester City News).

However, Henry acknowledged that Vinicius is currently the best forward in world football and would be a deserving winner if he received the award.

“Vinicius Jr didn’t perform at the Copa America. But is he a worthy winner? Yes. He’s outstanding. I keep on saying, for me, right now, as a forward, the best in the world so he deserves it," he added.

While Rodri and Vinicius Junior are favorites for the Ballon d’Or, the likes of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Lautaro Martinez are also considered strong contenders to either win the trophy or secure a top-three finish.