“To have been chosen among all these great players, it’s incredible.” Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, was elected Ballon d'Or 2024 and the surprise was big as everyone announced a coronation for Vinicius Junior. While his defeat caused a huge controversy, Rodri spoke at length on the subject to France Football. Assuring in particular that he was never informed of his victory before the evening. ” No not at all. I was actually surprised that everyone asked me this question. No one said anything to me before the ceremony. I knew for a long time that this would be the rule this year, and it worked, because until the end the winner didn't know. At noon, as we prepared to board the plane, we received several messages from friends saying that Real Madrid would not come. My first reaction was: I don't believe it, it's fake news. When I landed in Paris, I received even more congratulatory messages. That’s when I started thinking: Wow! I had left just to attend the ceremony and ended up in the virtual winner's position (laughs). »
Rodri would not have boycotted like Real Madrid
Rodri who then mentions the boycott of Real Madrid for this ceremony, decided during the day. Without condemning the Merengue club, the Manchester City midfielder still regrets the absence of several key players, and of the Spanish club in general to collect its trophies. “What do you want me to say?” That I would have preferred them all to be present? Of course. The second, third, fourth, etc. were missing. We want all the best players on the planet to be present on an evening like this. The best team of the year (Real Madrid) did not attend the ceremony, although they crowned the best coach (Carlo Ancelotti) and the best collective scorer (Kylian Mbappé). I must respect everyone's decision, even if I would not have acted in the same way. But everyone does what they want. »
Finally, Rodri responded to the strong opinion of Karim Benzema, who believes that Vinicius would have been a more deserved winner than him for this 2024 Ballon d'Or. Here again, the Spanish midfielder shows respect. “It’s his opinion, he has the right to think that. I can't expect to please everyone. I won with a jury of a hundred voters, and that's not bad. Then I also heard Paul Scholes say the opposite, that my game seemed very beautiful and intelligent to him, and coming from a midfielder like him, that means something to me. All I know is that Karim Benzema was an incredible Ballon d'Or winner, and I know that because he made us suffer that year (laughs). »
Also read
Ballon d'Or: the tiny gap between Rodri and Vinicius revealed!
Ballon d’Or: three journalists excluded Vinicius from the Top 10!
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To summarize
Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or, spoke in the columns of France Football. The opportunity to discuss the controversy of the boycott of Vinicius and Real Madrid. But also to talk about a certain Karim Benzema who did not vote for him.
