Manchester United and England legend Rio Ferdinand made his Ballon d’or 2024 pick as the Copa America and the Euros are nearing their ends.

The race for Lionel Messi replacement in the record of achievements as the Argentina cptain won his ninth trophy in 2023 after Karim Benzema broke his run in 2022.

However, this year, Messi is not in the talks for the award but rather Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.

The Brazilian was the maiman for Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid in their triupmhs both in La Liga and UEFA Champions League and Bellingham was there also.

Mbappe on the other hand had a complicated season with Paris Saint-Germain and did not perform that good in Champions League despite PSG reaching the semifinals and his Euros in Germany “was a failure”, he admitted himself after Spain knocked out France on Tuesday night.

Thus said, the outright favourite to win Ballon d’or 2024 is Vinicius Jr according to Rio Ferdinand even though the 23-year old’s Brazil has been elimianted in Copa America quarterfinals.

“I don’t think anyone has done anything else to suggest that they should win Ballon d’Or over Vini Jr,” he told BBC.

“He was the most decisive player and huge reason why Real won Champions League and La Liga.

“If Jude keeps scoring & England win EUROs, he’s definitely going to be in mix too.”