The 2024 Ballon d'Or vote has caused a lot of controversy among fans. As a journalist who has voted for this award many times, what is your assessment of this year's results?
- This year, I was not able to vote for the Golden Ball because only journalists from countries in the top 100 of the FIFA rankings were allowed to participate. But I still followed it very closely and gave my own comments and opinions. First, I think the vote is controversial every year. Everyone has their own opinion, but only 100 journalists can vote.
The winner this year is Rodri, I think he is extremely deserving. Vinicius was successful with Real Madrid, contributing many goals but he has not shown that with the Brazilian team. They played badly in the 2024 Copa America and were eliminated early. They also struggled in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Vinicius is like two different versions of Real Madrid and Brazil.
Rodri's role in Man City and the Spanish national team is beyond dispute. As long as Rodri is absent, there will be problems. He plays consistently, consistently, and contributes goals despite playing in a deep-lying midfield position. His contributions are completely deserved.
This is also the first year that the Ballon d'Or nomination list is missing both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. A brilliant era of two stars has ended, how do you feel?
- I think this will happen sooner or later. It will have a big effect. In the past, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Wesley Sneijder were all extremely famous. Sneijder was with the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final. Xavi and Iniesta even won the World Cup with Spain. Everything they did was not as famous as Messi.
The Argentine striker scored 58 goals in 2010, but did not win the Champions League, while Sneijder did. So why was Sneijder not elected? Because there were 3 jury members voting. Journalists mainly voted for Sneijder, because they have a different perspective. But the head coach and the captain of the national team voted for whoever they like. That's why Messi won the Ballon d'Or. The presence of superstars makes it easy for that situation to happen. Sometimes it doesn't have to be too excellent, just making the audience happy, having emotions in the game will influence them.
But this year, no more. Both Ronaldo and Messi play in Europe - the most developed football stage in the world. No Ronaldo and Messi is completely deserved.
That gives Rodri a chance. If Messi, Ronaldo or both were in the vote this year, there would have been a split vote. Who knows, Rodri might not have won. But without them, Rodri would have had a chance today.
Some fans jokingly said "it was a robbery" when Vinicius missed out on the Ballon d'Or that should have belonged to him. Before the award ceremony, the media also confirmed this information. In your opinion, what exactly happened?
- I think the information before the Golden Ball ceremony is just a trick. I have voted for the Golden Ball for more than 10 consecutive years and I understand the process of journalists sending in ballots, the organizers receiving ballots, and how much time they have to prepare for the ceremony.
Journalists submit their votes a month before the award ceremony, so it is impossible for the organizers to “turn around” at the last minute. Because the organizers are the ones who know best. Sometimes a week after receiving the votes from journalists, the organizers already know who will win the Ballon d’Or. How could Vinicius be surprised at the last minute that he did not win the Ballon d’Or?
If someone says “Vinicius was robbed of the Ballon d’Or” it is wrong. Rodri did it completely transparently and cleanly. Journalists are the ones who bring the results, without the intervention of the organizing committee, UEFA or any other organization. As for the information leak, it is just a trick of the organizing committee, to make everything sensational.
I don't think this is a robbery, but a super tantrum. It's not worthy of a team like Real Madrid. They have super players, super coaches, super seasons and are a super team, but they are also super childish to act like this.
