Rodri responded to critical remarks made by Cristiano Ronaldo following his recent Ballon d’Or triumph, which was awarded to the Manchester City midfielder in October following an exceptional season culminating in City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Ronaldo, winner of five Ballon d’Or awards, aired his grievances at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, where he appeared to question the validity of the Ballon d’Or selection. The legendary Portuguese striker suggested the accolade should have gone to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr instead.
In his own words, Ronaldo said: “Vinicius Jr should have won the Ballon d’Or, in my opinion it was clear. It was unfair. That’s why I love the Globe Soccer Awards, they are honest .” His assertion underlined his belief that Vinicius had played a crucial role for Real Madrid throughout the year.
Read more:
Television consumption in 2024 reaches a historic low despite Euro 2024 and the Broncano-Motos clash
Asked about Ronaldo’s comments during an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, Rodri expressed surprise, saying: “Well, it was really a surprise, because he knows better than anyone how this price works and, above all, how the winner is chosen.”
-Rodri then elaborated on the Ballon d’Or selection process, clarifying: “This year, the journalists who vote decided that I should win it. Probably, these same journalists were the ones who at some point voted for him, and I imagine in that case he would have agreed.”
However, Rodri’s award did not come without controversy, with the Real Madrid contingent expressing their displeasure with the decision, choosing to pull out of the event hours before it began.
Read more:
Real Madrid launches electoral process for Florentino Pérez’s final term
It is worth noting that Vinicius Jr was later named the best FIFA player, as well as several accolades at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, where he was recognized as the best footballer of the year.
