Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri was awarded the men’s Ballon d’Or on Monday after a stellar season that saw him contribute to his club’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and help Spain clinch Euro 2024. The decision to honor Rodri came as a surprise to many, particularly as Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who helped his team secure the Liga and Champions League double, was widely regarded as the favorite. In a dramatic turn of events, Real Madrid announced hours before the ceremony that their delegation would boycott the event at the Chatelet Theatre, expressing disappointment over what they viewed as a snub to Vinicius.
Rodri, 28, played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s Premier League triumph, outmaneuvering rivals Arsenal to secure the title. His performances during Euro 2024 also stood out, as he was named player of the tournament after leading Spain to victory in Germany. In his post-award press conference, Rodri addressed Real Madrid’s no-show with diplomacy, stating, “They have their decision; they didn’t want to be here for their reasons. I just focus on my club and my team-mates.”
Despite claims from the organizers that the winner’s identity was a closely-guarded secret, news of Rodri’s victory seemed to leak ahead of the ceremony, adding to the tension surrounding the event.
Earlier in the evening, Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati won her second consecutive women’s Ballon d’Or, having led her club to a historic quadruple of titles and secured the Nations League with her national team.
The controversy surrounding the men’s award escalated when Real Madrid made their feelings known. They stated that if Vinicius was not named the winner, the award should instead go to his teammate Dani Carvajal, who also played a crucial role in their Champions League success. “If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner,” Real Madrid told AFP. “As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”
In a poignant moment during the ceremony, when Real Madrid was announced as the men’s team of the year, a video played on stage, highlighting their achievements despite the absence of club representatives. The Amaury Group, which owns L’Equipe sports daily and France Football magazine, denied any leaks regarding the award’s winner, emphasizing that “no player or club” knew in advance who had won. (With inputs from agencies. Image source: instagram.com/ballondorofficial)
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