Ballon d’Or Awards LIVE: Latest updates as Rodri bids to upset Vinicius Jr for top prize

This is known as the Ballon d’Or awards night but really that is just one of several being handed out.

Here’s the full rundown of what to expect:

• The Ballon d’Or
• The Ballon d’Or Feminin
• The Kopa Trophy (best player under 21 years of age)
• The Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper)
• The Men’s Club of the Year Trophy
• The Women’s Club of the Year Trophy
• The Men’s Coach of the Year Trophy
• The Women’s Coach of the Year Trophy
• The Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer of the previous season)

Lucy Bronze, Lauren James and Lauren Hemp have made the 30-player shortlist for the Ballon d’Or Feminin, while Wiegman herself has been nominated for women’s coach of the year. Although James is injured, the Lionesses will be preparing for Tuesday night’s friendly against South Africa in Coventry while the Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place and neither Bronze or Hemp will be able to join the star-studded evening.

It will be similar for several other leading nations across Europe and Aitana Bonmati, the favourite to retain the Ballon d’Or Feminin, will be required to play for Spain in Italy on Tuesday evening.

There has been one goalkeeper, Lev Yashin, and a trio of defenders, though Fabio Cannavaro was more of a stopper than the German midfielders, Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer, who were converted into sweepers. But there has never been a defensive midfielder. The Ballon d’Or is almost seven decades old and Rodri, the man who earned Manchester City their first Champions League, could be a history maker in another respect.

But then why would he? The Ballon d’Or has tended to be reserved for forwards and flair players. His job description entails unselfishness. The defensive midfielder is constructed to allow others to get the glory. And yet the paradox of Rodri is that he has reached such a standard, achieved so much himself for his respective teams, that the spotlight has shone back onto him.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place today, with the best in men’s and women’s football descending on the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris for a night of awards and celebration.

Considered the most prestigious awards showcase in the industry, this is a night for legends to be born, joining the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the pantheon of greatness.

Two new awards will be introduced this year, with Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year joining a full slate that is headlined by the Ballon d’Or and Ballon d’Or Feminin being handed out.

Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Rodri are widely regarded as favourites for the men’s award in a year where it’s incredibly likely a first-time winner will be crowned after Messi and Ronaldo won 13 of the previous 15 awards.

After winning LaLiga and the Champions League, Vinicius and Bellingham share a common advantage over Rodri, who is a surprise contender given his position as a defensive midfielder. Vinicius racked up 21 goals and nine assists across La Liga and the Champions League, while Bellingham enjoyed a stunning debut season at the Bernabeu, including a number of decisive late winners to keep Madrid in the hunt for silverware.

Vinicius Jr will reportedly not travel to Paris for the ceremony tonight, reports Fabrizio Romano.

That same report confirms nobody from Real Madrid will attend the glamorous ceremony in Paris as internally the Spanish giants believe Vinicius Jr will not win the Ballon d’Or.

The top prize will go elsewhere, it seems, with Florentino Pérez, Carlo Ancelotti, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal all opting to stay at home.