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Real Madrid star Endrick has picked his favorites to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or award. While he named Vinicius Junior as his top pick and put Jude Bellingham in second, the youngster placed experienced defender Dani Carvajal in fourth.
This would seem surprising after many would have considered the veteran right-back a top pick, given his exploits last season and during Euro 2024. He managed to win this summer's European Championships in Germany and played a key part in Spain's success.
Last season, Carvajal also won the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles with Los Blancos. He made 41 appearances across competitions, bagging six goals and five assists.
Despite these accomplishments, Endrick said (via @MadridXtra):
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"My top five Ballon d'Or favorites? Vini, Bellingham, Mbappe, Carvajal, Valverde."
Of course, the likes of Vinicius and Bellingham were also crucial to Real Madrid's success in the 2023/24 campaign. The Brazilian played 39 matches across competitions for the Spanish giants, bagging 24 goals and 11 assists while also netting in the UEFA Champions League final.
Meanwhile, Bellingham helped England get to the final of Euro 2024 on top of having a stellar first season at the Santiago Bernabeu. For his club side, the 21-year-old midfielder played 42 matches in all competitions, bagging 23 goals and 13 assists.
Along with the aforementioned names, Manchester City midfielder Rodri is also considered a top candidate for the prize this year. He won the European Championships with Spain and claimed the Premier League title last season.
Ex-Real Madrid star believes Dani Carvajal deserves to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or
Former Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez is of the opinion that his ex-club teammate Dani Carvajal should win the 2024 Ballon d'Or award. The pair played 80 matches together across competitions for Los Blancos, bagging one joint goal contribution in the process.
Despite the Colombian's claims, it is largely unpopular for the award to go to a defender. Speaking about this in a recent interview, the 33-year-old said (via Madrid Universal):
"Who should win the Ballon d'Or this year? Carvajal, if it's for titles, played well."
Even at the age of 32, Carvajal continues to perform at a high level for Real Madrid. However, it remains to be seen whether he will stay at the club beyond 2025, which is when his contract expires.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, had a stellar Copa America 2024 campaign, winning the Best Player award. He scored once and assisted six times as Colombia reached the final.
