Real Madrid’s Reaction to Rodri’s Ballon d’Or Win Stirs Controversy
In what should have been a night dedicated to celebrating Rodri’s incredible achievement, Real Madrid’s reaction to the Manchester City star’s Ballon d’Or victory became the focal point. Rodri, whose performances led Manchester City to a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title and helped Spain claim the Euro 2024 trophy, was named the world’s best player in 2024 at the Paris ceremony. Overcome with emotion, the former Atletico Madrid midfielder tearfully accepted the award.
Yet, Real Madrid’s focus shifted attention away from Rodri and onto Vinicius Junior, who came in second. The Brazilian forward, alongside teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal, ranked in the top four, while Rodri’s City teammate, Erling Haaland, rounded out the top five.
Vinicius played a crucial role in Real’s La Liga and Champions League successes last season. While his performance made him a worthy contender for the Ballon d’Or, his goal-scoring record (15 league goals) was lower than West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen’s 16, making the debate over his candidacy less clear-cut compared to past legends like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite this, Real Madrid publicly condemned UEFA, accusing the organization of disrespect, notably boycotting the event in response. In a statement to AFP, the Spanish club remarked, “If the award criteria do not favor Vinicius, they should at least support Carvajal as the winner. This outcome demonstrates a lack of respect from Ballon d’Or-UEFA, and Real Madrid does not engage where it is not respected.”
Real Madrid players echoed these sentiments. Eder Militao expressed his support for Vinicius, stating, “You are the best, and nobody can take that away from you.” Meanwhile, Eduardo Camavinga criticized “football politics,” asserting that the award did not reflect Vinicius’s greatness.
The Ballon d’Or, awarded by a jury of specialized journalists from around the world, considers individual performances, team achievements, character, and fair play. The event aims to provide a balanced and impartial decision based on contributions across a season.
Ultimately, Real’s reaction has raised questions about how such debates are framed, with some suggesting the accusations of “football politics” may be misplaced. Vinicius, now motivated to prove doubters wrong, has vowed to win the Ballon d’Or multiple times in the future. However, Real Madrid’s response has overshadowed Rodri’s victory and has arguably displayed greater disrespect than the perceived bias they protested.
