Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or remarks spark Rodri’s response
In the latest twist in the footballing drama, Manchester City’s Rodri has hit back at Cristiano Ronaldo’s claim that his Ballon d’Or victory was ‘unfair’. The awards were presented in October, sparking debate across the football world.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo questioned the legitimacy of the prestigious awards ceremony while attending the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai. While paying tribute to Vinicius Jr. as the best footballer of the year, Ronaldo couldn’t help but express his opinion that the Real Madrid winger deserved the Ballon d’Or rather than Rodri, who won the title in Paris.
‘Vinicius Jr. should have won the Ballon d’Or, that was clear in my opinion. It was unfair. This is why I love the Globe Soccer Awards; They are fair,’ Ronaldo said, fueling the debate on Wednesday.
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Rodri, surprised by Ronaldo’s comments, shared his thoughts during a recent interview with Spanish publication IF. “Well, it was actually a surprise, because he knows better than anyone how this prize works and especially how the winner is chosen,” he said. “This year, the journalists who vote decided that I should win the election. These are probably the same journalists who at one point voted for him to win the election, and I imagine he would have agreed.”
Rodri’s impressive journey to the Ballon d’Or wasn’t just a personal triumph; it came after his remarkable contribution to Manchester City’s historic feat, becoming the first English football team to win four consecutive Premier League titles. Additionally, he played a crucial role in guiding Luis de la Fuente’s Spain to glory at the European Championship.
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Having lost just one club game in 18 months, Rodri etched his name in history as the first Premier League player to reach this type of impressive milestone since Ronaldo himself achieved it at Manchester United in 2008 .
However, the celebrations were overshadowed when Real Madrid suddenly withdrew a 50-strong delegation from the awards ceremony hours before, amid claims that Vinicius, who was favored by bookmakers, had not secured the price.
In a turning point since the ceremony, Vinicius was honored with the Best FIFA Men’s Player award and also shone at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai.
