A sensational rumor is lighting up social media, claiming a glitch in the Ballon d’Or 2024 voting system may have wrongly denied Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez the award, with accusations that France Football intentionally hid the outcome to avoid backlash.
Manchester City’s Rodri was officially crowned the Ballon d’Or winner during the 68th ceremony in Paris on October 28, 2024. However, fresh speculation suggests that a voting error might have actually placed Núñez at the top, raising serious questions within the football community. As of June 26, 2025, the reports remain unverified, but discussions among fans and pundits show no signs of slowing down.
Núñez, 25, had an impressive 2023/24 campaign with Liverpool, recording 19 assists and scoring crucial goals — including a double against Brentford and a stoppage-time winner versus Nottingham Forest. His total of 10 goals and 10 assists across competitions made him the first Premier League player that season to achieve double digits in both non-penalty goals and assists.
Despite his standout performances, Núñez was noticeably left out of the 30-player shortlist announced on September 4, 2024 — a lineup featuring names like Rodri, Vinícius Jr., and Jude Bellingham. An alleged insider from France Football claims the glitch revealed Núñez as the top choice among voters from 100 FIFA-affiliated nations.
Speculation suggests the cover-up may be linked to the Ballon d’Or’s historical bias toward traditional playmakers and forwards, often overlooking players with Núñez’s unpredictable, high-energy style. His 87 successful dribbles and dynamic goal-scoring were reportedly not enough to overcome Liverpool’s premature Champions League exit in the eyes of the award organizers.
Social media users are in uproar, accusing France Football of rigging the results to favor Rodri — whose key roles in Manchester City’s treble and Spain’s Euro 2024 victory made him a more conventional choice. One viral post read, “Núñez was robbed. His clutch performances prove he deserved it!”
However, critics argue against the claims, citing Núñez’s omission from the shortlist and his occasional inconsistency — particularly his missed chances in key matches like the one against City in 2022.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s transfer activity — including the £35 million sale of Jarell Quansah and interest in striker Viktor Gyökeres — has fueled rumors that the club may be preparing for Núñez’s possible departure.
With no solid evidence to back the glitch claims and silence from all involved parties, the controversy remains an unresolved mystery — one that continues to split the football world over whether Núñez was unjustly denied the sport’s most coveted individual honor
