Real Madrid took a very strong stance after learning that Vinicius Junior did not win the 2024 Ballon d'Or. However, Rodri's step up to the podium to receive the award was completely worthy of the Spanish star's achievements last season.
According to the Santiago de Bernabeu team, Vinicius was the best star of the last season after his brilliant performance helped Real Madrid win La Liga and the Champions League. Besides, with Rodri being the one named, the Los Blancos leadership also asked the question why it was not Dani Carvajal when the 32-year-old defender won all the most prestigious titles in 2024?
The way Real Madrid reacted to the news that their players did not win this year could have led many to believe that the result was due to a biased vote or even a scam.
The Madrid team's "sulking" could be said to be not a gentle reaction. Rumors of Rodri's victory had been spreading since last week. However, the front page of Marca later confirmed that Vinicius would win the award. By the afternoon before the award ceremony, when everyone believed Rodri would win, Real publicly protested, claiming that the organizers had disrespected them and that the award was meaningless.
Real Madrid believe that if the voting criteria are considered, Vinicius or Carvajal is more deserving. The Ballon d'Or award consists of three criteria: individual achievements in the previous season; team success; and finally the player's fair-play spirit throughout the season.
With the above 3 criteria, it is undeniable that Rodri is completely worthy. The midfielder born in 1996 is one of the key players of Manchester City and the Spanish national team. He has played excellently and maintained stable performance. On the contrary, Vinicius sometimes has difficulty playing for the Brazilian national team.
Last season, Rodri not only helped Man City win the Premier League, he also won the title of "Best Player" at EURO 2024 and the Golden Ball at the FIFA Club World Cup. This shows the great influence of the 28-year-old star on The Citizens and La Roja.
Vinicius may be an important factor for Real Madrid but Rodri is the "backbone" for both teams he plays for, something not every player can do.
Rodri has been praised by Pep Guardiola for his ability to maintain a high level of performance, regularly scoring 8 or 9 points in each match. Last season, when the Spanish midfielder was on the field, Man City had a very high win rate. When he was absent, the team's performance dropped significantly.
This proves that Rodri plays an important role in shaping Man City's style of play. He is not just a defensive midfielder, but also knows how to set the pace and push forward when needed. The EURO 2024 champion's development in this role is also why he is a strong candidate for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
There is no denying that Real Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in the world and has had many excellent players win the Ballon d'Or. However, Los Blancos' demand for the award to go to their players shows a lack of respect for other players with impressive achievements. In addition, the "White Vultures" refusing to attend the award ceremony may create a bad image for a world-class team.
Rodri's win is a testament to his dedication and talent. Whether Real Madrid are in the running or not doesn't change the fact that Rodri is outstanding and fully deserving of this award.
