Ballon d’Or Nominees Announced, But France Football Make Huge Blunder
The wait is over, folks! The nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or have been announced, and it’s a star-studded list featuring some of the best players in the world. But, in a shocking turn of events, France Football, the organizers of the prestigious award, have made a massive blunder that has left fans scratching their heads.
The 30-man shortlist includes some of the biggest names in football, with the likes of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and Rodri all making the cut. However, it’s the absence of some big names that has raised eyebrows, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the two most prolific winners, not being nominated for the first time in 20 years. Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk also miss out, as do Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
One player who has been included in the list is Bayer Leverkusen’s left-back Alejandro ‘Alex’ Grimaldo, who played a key role in his team’s unbeaten domestic double triumph under Xabi Alonso. Grimaldo scored 12 goals and assisted a further 20 in a stunning individual campaign, and his inclusion was confirmed by the official Ballon d’Or account.
But, here’s where things get messy. The Ballon d’Or account tagged Grimaldo’s club, Bayer Leverkusen, as Valencia, which has left fans in stitches. Grimaldo is indeed from Valencia and did spend a period in their youth set-up before moving to Barcelona and later Benfica. However, he’s been playing for Bayer Leverkusen since 2019, and the mistake is a huge error from the Ballon d’Or organizers.
The account deleted the post shortly after, but not before Bayer Leverkusen’s official English account had a bit of fun, cheekily replying: "Please can we have our player back @valenciacf?". They then added: "Everyone asking when he left… we’re wondering the same thing".
So, who will win the Ballon d’Or this year? One hundred journalists from around the world are responsible for the votes, taking into account a number of areas and achievements. The winner will be announced on October 28th at a ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Ballon d’Or, and follow us on all social media platforms for the latest news and analysis from the world of football!
Topics: Ballon d’Or, Bayer Leverkusen