By Toby Cudworth The 2024 Ballon d’Or and 2024 Ballon d’Or Feminin awards were handed out a star-studded ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. As always, there was plenty of fanfare and intrigue as to who would the win top prizes, with particular mystery surrounding the men’s award won for the eighth time in 2023 by Lionel Messi. Vinicius Junior was the frontrunner in many people’s estimation, owing to a superb year for both Real Madrid – whom he won La Liga and the Champions League with – and with national team Brazil. But in a shock late turn of events, Manchester City midfielder Rod…