Enrique Wolff, a former Argentina international and respected football journalist, has been disqualified from voting for the 2024 Ballon d’Or after officials determined that his voting methods lacked objectivity. The former Real Madrid and River Plate defender faced scrutiny following his biased selections during the 2023 Ballon d’Or voting process, which ultimately cost him his position on the voting panel.
Wolff, who had a successful broadcasting career after retiring from football in 1981, had controversially placed four Argentine players—Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, and Emiliano Martínez—in his top five picks for the award. This choice raised eyebrows, especially since France Football shortlisted all four players for the prestigious honor.
Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief at France Football and a key organizer of the Ballon d’Or, commented on the situation, emphasizing the importance of credibility among voters. “I am not a dictator. They vote with their heart. Some prefer attackers or midfielders, this team or that team. The important thing is to be credible. Not everyone passes that test,” he stated. He further elaborated on Wolff’s disqualification, saying, “Last year, officials removed the voter for Argentina after he selected four players from Argentina in his top five spots.” My opinion was he had lost objectivity. We changed the journalist, and he no longer votes.”
Wolff’s choices may be understandable because Argentina triumphed at the 2022 World Cup, ending a 36-year title drought. However, Critics deemed his decision to include all four Argentine candidates in the top five as excessive and indicative of bias.
With the 2024 Ballon d’Or approaching, Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. emerges as the clear favorite to win his first trophy, particularly as Lionel Messi—who has claimed three of the last four awards—will not be defending his title. The disqualification of Wolff opens the door for a new Argentine representative, who will likely approach the voting process with a more balanced perspective.
As football fans anticipate the outcome of this year’s awards, Wolff’s exit from the panel serves as a reminder of the importance of impartiality in such prestigious selections. If Vinicius lives up to his favorite status, Argentina’s loss could very well be Brazil’s gain in this year’s Ballon d’Or race.
