The 2024 Ballon d'Or Awards will reportedly see a massive change involving the winner ahead of the ceremony later this month.
Little more than two weeks remain before this year's Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on 28 October.
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The 30-man shortlist for the Golden Ball was announced on 4 September, with the Real Madrid trio of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior among the favourites to lift the prestigious prize.
Moreover, there has been some suggestions in Spain that the award will be given to Vinicius following his impressive displays in Real's 2023/24 UEFA Champions League and LALIGA triumph.
However, a new development has seemingly come to light, which seems to disprove any suggestion that the winner has already been decided.
According to The Athletic correspondent Mario Cortegana, the winner of the 2024 Ballon d'Or will not be interviewed by France Football before the ceremony – as was previously the case – but after.
This means that the champion will not know they have won until the envelope is opened during the live ceremony.
Indeed, in the past, players knew before the ceremony that they would receive the prize. The 2006 Ballon d'Or winner, Fabio Cannavaro, revealed this week that he was informed by a journalist that he was going to win the accolade.
"A journalist from France Football came to Valdebebas in Madrid. I was in the car and I heard someone shouting 'Fabio, Fabio'," the former defender told Evento Gazzetta Festival dello Sport.
"I stopped the car. He was out of breath and started talking to me. He said, 'I need to talk to you. I work for France Football,' and gave me his business card.
"I said, 'I'm going home,' and he asked, 'Can I come with you? I have to talk to you about something important regarding the Ballon d'Or.'
"He got into the car and said, 'Look, I know there's still a long time to go until the ceremony, but the votes have shown that you've won the Ballon d'Or.'
"I thought he was joking. I called my wife and told her I was going home with a friend who had told me I was going to win the Ballon d'Or. She said, 'Look, Fabio, I think it's a joke.'
"It was fun and unexpected. I knew the World Cup was great, but winning it for a defender is almost impossible. Receiving this individual trophy made all the hard work worth it."
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