Ballon d’Or 2024: Federico Valverde’s Unexpected Choice Stuns Everyone**
In an interview with *France Football*, Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde shocked fans by revealing his surprising pick for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Rather than supporting his high-profile teammates Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, or Dani Carvajal, Valverde named former teammate Toni Kroos as his preferred winner.
While many consider Vinicius Jr. a top contender for the award following Real Madrid’s triumphant La Liga and Champions League campaigns, Valverde expressed his admiration for Kroos, who retired at the end of last season.
Valverde highlighted how Kroos, along with Casemiro and Luka Modric, helped him mature, saying, “I would have given him the Ballon d’Or.”
Valverde also expressed his personal ambitions, hoping to finish in the Top 15 of this year’s rankings while striving to improve year after year. This bold statement has sparked debate, with Valverde’s choice of Kroos surprising fans and media alike.
Federico Valverde’s unexpected choice of Toni Kroos for the 2024 Ballon d’Or has created quite a stir among football fans. In an interview with *France Football*, Valverde bypassed other prominent Real Madrid contenders like Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, opting instead to honor Kroos, his former midfield partner. Despite Kroos retiring last season, Valverde credited him as a key figure in his development and the legendary midfield trio of Kroos, Casemiro, and Luka Modric as instrumental to his growth.
Valverde’s admiration for Kroos highlights the German’s enduring influence, even after hanging up his boots, and adds an intriguing layer to the Ballon d’Or conversation. This surprise endorsement, coupled with Valverde’s own ambition to break into the Top 15 rankings, has sparked widespread debate in the football community, particularly with Vinicius Jr. seen as one of the front-runners due to Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League successes.
