In a shocking twist, a rumored glitch in the 2024 Ballon d’Or voting system has allegedly revealed Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez as the true winner of the prestigious award, with claims that France Football concealed the results to avoid controversy.
The 68th annual Ballon d’Or ceremony, held on October 28, 2024, in Paris, crowned Manchester City’s Rodri as the men’s winner, but whispers of a cover-up involving the Uruguayan striker have sent shockwaves through the football world. As of June 26, 2025, no official confirmation has surfaced, but the speculation has ignited heated debate among fans and pundits.
Nunez, 25, enjoyed a standout 2023/24 season with Liverpool, contributing 19 assists and scoring key goals, including a brace against Brentford and a 99th-minute winner against Nottingham Forest.
His 10 goals and 10 assists across all competitions made him the first Premier League player that season to hit double figures in both non-penalty goals and assists.
Despite his impact, Nunez was not among the 30 nominees announced on September 4, 2024, which included stars like Rodri, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham. The alleged glitch, reportedly uncovered by an anonymous source within France Football’s voting system, suggests Nunez topped the points tally from the jury of journalists representing the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations.
The rumored cover-up stems from the Ballon d’Or’s historical bias toward attacking midfielders and forwards, with only two centre-backs and one goalkeeper ever winning. Critics argue Nunez’s raw, chaotic style—evidenced by his 87 dribbles and explosive finishing—may have been deemed too polarizing for the award’s prestige, especially given Liverpool’s early Champions League exit.
Social media posts have fueled the fire, with fans claiming France Football suppressed Nunez’s win to favor Rodri, whose pivotal role in Manchester City’s Premier League title and Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph made him a less contentious choice. One post read, “Nunez was robbed! His stats and clutch moments outshine half the nominees.”
Skeptics, however, question the glitch’s validity, noting Nunez’s absence from the nominee list and his inconsistent finishing, like missing key chances against Manchester City in 2022.
Liverpool’s recent transfer activity, including a £35 million sale of Jarell Quansah and interest in Viktor Gyökeres, suggests a potential shift away from Nunez, adding fuel to speculation about his future. Without concrete evidence, the controversy remains a tantalizing mystery, leaving fans divided over whether Nunez was unjustly denied football’s highest individual honor.
