Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has predicted that Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior will emerge as the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or award. This prediction comes shortly after the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee list was unveiled by the organizers.

The senator, also known as “The Bullfighter,” took to his X account, where he posted a picture of the Real Madrid star with the caption, “Vinicius Jr. will lift the 2024 Ballon d’Or.”

Winning the Champions League with Real Madrid has significantly boosted Vinicius Junior’s candidacy for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, according to his loyal fans. Many believe his outstanding performances throughout the season have solidified his place among the world’s elite players.

Vinicius Junior, alongside other rising talents like Spain and Barcelona’s Lamile Yamal and England’s Phil Foden, has made it onto the prestigious nominee list. His vital contributions to Real Madrid’s continental success have not gone unnoticed, leading to a steady rise in his market value at the club. It was the 2021/2022 season that truly projected Vinicius Jr. into the global spotlight, as he is now considered one of the best players in the world.

A phenomenal start to the LaLiga campaign saw the winger score five goals and provide three assists in his first six league games. He maintained this form throughout the season, amassing a total of 22 goals and 20 assists in 52 games across all competitions.

Since then, Vinicius Jr.’s market value has soared from €50 million to an impressive €150 million, making him the most valuable player in LaLiga and the joint third most valuable player globally. This marks a staggering 275% increase in his market value since 2021, the highest for any player in Spanish football during this period.

The Ballon d’Or award is an annual football accolade that recognizes the best player over the past year. It was first awarded in 1956, with the most recent winner being Argentina’s Lionel Messi in 2023.

Messi has won the men’s Ballon d’Or a record eight times, surpassing his closest competitor Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the award five times. Notably, both Messi and Ronaldo are absent from the 2024 nominee list released by the organizers on September 4.

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