Cristiano Ronaldo Criticizes Ballon d’Or Decision, Claims Vinicius Jr. Was Robbed
Rodri, 28, was awarded the Ballon d'Or in October, a decision that has drawn widespread debate.
Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his dissatisfaction with the recent Ballon d’Or result, arguing that Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior was more deserving of the prestigious award than Manchester City’s Rodri.
The 24-year-old Brazilian forward played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s successful season, scoring 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions, and helping his team secure both La Liga and the Champions League titles.
He also found the back of the net in the final of the Champions League, contributing to their victory over Borussia Dortmund.
However, despite his impressive achievements, Vinicius was overlooked in favor of Rodri, who guided Manchester City to a fourth consecutive Premier League title and played a pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.
Rodri, 28, was awarded the Ballon d’Or in October, a decision that has drawn widespread debate.
Real Madrid, anticipating Vinicius would be snubbed, chose not to attend the awards ceremony, further highlighting the controversy surrounding the decision.
At the Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, shared his thoughts on the situation: “I admire the young generation of players—Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, and Vinicius—they are doing exceptional work,” he said. “In my opinion, Vinicius deserved to win the Ballon d’Or. It was unfair, and I’m saying it right here, in front of everyone.”
While acknowledging Rodri’s contributions, Ronaldo emphasized, “Rodri deserved his recognition, but Vinicius should have been awarded the Ballon d’Or, especially after winning the Champions League.”
The Ballon d’Or winner is selected by a panel of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries. Despite the controversy, the decision remains final.