Rodri, with the prestigious award
image credit: CHRIS B COMIC
Rodri has responded to Cristiano Ronaldo’s criticism of the Ballon d’Or, following the Portuguese legend’s claim that Vinicius Jr should have been the winner instead of the Manchester City midfielder.
Ronaldo made the remarks during the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, where Vinicius Jr was named the best male footballer for the year.
In contrast, Rodri had won the Ballon d’Or in Paris just days earlier.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, was adamant that the Brazilian winger deserved the prestigious title. He stated:
Vinicius Jr should have won the Ballon d’Or, in my opinion. It was unfair. This is why I love Globe Soccer Awards, they are honest.
In response to these comments, Rodri expressed surprise when asked by Spanish newspaper AS.
Well, it was a surprise, really, because he knows better than anyone how this award works and, above all, how the winner is chosen. This year, the journalists who vote decided that I should win it. Probably, these same journalists were the ones who at some point voted for him to win it, and I imagine that then he would have agreed.
Rodri’s Ballon d’Or victory followed a remarkable year, with his contributions helping Manchester City make history by winning four consecutive Premier League titles.
He also played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory. With his impressive individual achievements, Rodri became the first Premier League player to win the award since Ronaldo in 2008.
However, his triumph sparked some controversy.
Real Madrid, who were backing Vinicius Jr for the award, reportedly withdrew a large delegation from the ceremony hours before it began when they learned that their player had not won.
Since then, Vinicius Jr has been awarded the Best FIFA Men’s Player honor and recognized at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, further solidifying his place as one of football’s top talents.