Man City goalkeeper Ederson reveals his surprise pick for Ballon d’Or and says the star ‘deserves it for everything he did last season’

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson may have made an enemy out of a key teammate as he revealed his pick for the Ballon d’Or.

The 2024 winner of football’s most prestigious individual award is due to be revealed on October 28.

A number of Ederson’s City teammates will be in the mix including Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, but star midfielder Rodri looms as the likeliest winner from Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad.

The 28-year-old played a pivotal role in helping City win the Premier League last season and was named the best player at Euro 2024 as he helped Spain win their first major international trophy since 2012.

However, Rodri faces stiff competition from Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior, who scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists from 39 appearances across all competitions.

Superstar City midfielder Rodri is a serious contender to win the award for the first time

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is the other hot favourite on the back of a stellar club season

The Brazilian saved his best for the Champions League last season where he scored six goals and had five assists from ten games.

Vinicius’ form was enough for Ederson to sensationally back him over Rodri to take home the Ballon d’Or.

‘I support Vinicius, he deserves it for everything he did last season,’ Ederson told TNT Sports in Brazil.

Ederson added: ‘I support Vinicius, also for Rodri and whoever wins it, it will be a deserved award, but I think Vini deserves it for everything he did in the Champions League, for everything he did last season, but if Rodri wins, I will also be happy.’ 

The Brazilian goalkeeper has played with Vinicius just eight times, although he has had to sit behind Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson in the pecking order for the national team.

Ederson has been on the field at the same time as Rodri on 209 occasions.

Rodri appeared to have the edge on Vinicius for this year’s Ballon d’Or, but the defensive midfielder tore his ACL in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in September.

Guardiola confirmed the 28-year-old’s season was over just days after the injury in what could prove to be a killer blow in City’s bid for a fifth-straight Premier League title.

Ederson has thrown his support behind Brazilian teammate Vinicius to win the Ballon d’Or

Rodri tore his ACL in September and it could prove to be a killer blow in his Ballon d’Or chances

Rodri and Ederson have shared a  pitch over 200 times but the goalkeeper did not back him

Vinicius has started every game for Madrid this season across all competitions, with four goals and six assists to his name from just nine games.

However, he failed to make a splash at this year’s Copa America as Brazil bowed out of the tournament after losing to Uruguay on penalties in the quarter final.

Vinicius finished sixth in last year’s Ballon d’Or rankings while Rodri was fifth as Lionel Messi won the award for a record eighth time.