Alleged Glitch Suggests Darwin Núñez Was True Ballon d’Or Winner, Stirring Debate
In a stunning twist, rumors of a voting glitch in the 2024 Ballon d’Or have allegedly revealed Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez as the true winner, with claims that France Football concealed the results to prevent controversy.
Although Manchester City’s Rodri was officially named the men’s winner at the 68th Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on October 28, 2024, new whispers of a cover-up surrounding Núñez have shaken the football world. Even as of June 26, 2025, there is no confirmation, but heated debate continues among fans and analysts.
Núñez, 25, enjoyed an outstanding 2023/24 season with Liverpool, delivering 19 assists and scoring decisive goals — including a brace against Brentford and a last-gasp winner at Nottingham Forest. Across all competitions, he tallied 10 goals and 10 assists, making him the first Premier League player that season to hit double figures in both non-penalty goals and assists.
Yet, despite his form, Núñez was left off the 30-man shortlist announced on September 4, 2024 — a list that included the likes of Rodri, Vinícius Jr., and Jude Bellingham. According to an anonymous source within France Football, the alleged voting glitch revealed that Núñez had actually topped the poll from 100 FIFA-ranked nations.
The rumored cover-up is said to stem from Ballon d’Or’s historical preference for traditional playmakers and forwards, rarely rewarding chaotic, direct styles like Núñez’s — underscored by his 87 successful dribbles and dynamic finishing — especially given Liverpool’s early Champions League exit.
Social media is buzzing with claims that France Football suppressed Núñez’s win to favor Rodri, whose pivotal role in Manchester City’s title triumph and Spain’s Euro 2024 victory offered a safer choice. One viral post declared, “Núñez was robbed — his clutch goals and all-around impact speak for themselves!”
Still, skeptics have raised doubts, pointing to Núñez’s exclusion from the shortlist and inconsistent finishing — most notably his costly missed chances against City in 2022.
With Liverpool also pursuing new signings — including the £35m sale of Jarell Quansah and their interest in Viktor Gyökeres — some believe the club may already be preparing for life after Núñez, intensifying speculation over his future.
With no concrete proof of the glitch and all parties remaining tight-lipped, the controversy is likely to linger as a tantalizing mystery that keeps fans divided over whether Núñez was unfairly denied football’s most prestigious individual award.
