Neymar Junior opted to snub his former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe when giving his three favorites to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or. The Brazilian attacker thinks Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo deserve to be on the podium for the France Football Award when the awards ceremony takes place in Paris on October 28.
The 32-year-old knows Mbappe well from their time together at PSG, and both have now left the Parc des Princes. The latter enjoyed a stellar 2023-24 campaign, posting 44 goals and 10 assists in 48 games across competitions. He won a sixth Ligue 1 title with the Parisians before departing, and his next stop is Santiago Bernabeu, where he’s finally sealed a long-awaited move to Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe, 25, will link up with Vinicius, Bellingham, and Rodrygo in the Spanish capital, three stars Neymar thinks will rank in the top three of the Ballon d’Or race. He was asked by Brazilian journalist Isabela Pagliari for his prediction:
“Vinicius Junior is first, Rodrygo and (Jude) Bellingham are joint second. Mbappe enters the fray in third place.”
Vinicius, 23, is the favorite to win the Ballon d’Or after spearheading Madrid to the La Liga title, the UEFA Champions League trophy, and the Supercopa de Espana. He registered 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 games across competitions. Bellingham and Rodrygo were also key in Los Blancos’ triumph.
Kylian Mbappe has never won the Ballon d’Or, although he finished third on the podium last year behind eight-time winner Lionel Messi and Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland. His chances of winning the award have arguably increased tenfold now that he’s joined 15-time European Champions.