Manchester City midfielder Rodri made a bold statement this Monday, discussing his 2024 Ballon d’Or win. Surpassing Vinícius Júnior by 41 points, the Spanish midfielder credits his success to his consistency.
Rodri has been on cloud nine since October 28. Currently sidelined with a knee injury and not expected to return soon, he is relishing his unexpected Ballon d’Or win. Seen by most as an outsider behind Vinícius Júnior, Rodri topped the rankings after the vote from 100 journalists selected by France Football. Despite some unusual votes from certain countries and errors that led some jury members to resign, Rodri insists he is the most deserving, despite the criticism.
Rodri diminishes Vinícius’ season
In an appearance on Partidazo by Cope this Monday, Rodri explained why he felt he deserved the Ballon d’Or more than Vinícius Júnior and the other Real Madrid players. With his trophy beside him, the 28-year-old midfielder was blunt: “I won thanks to consistency, which is the most difficult thing in football. The most consistent player of the season was me.” While this reason is hard to dispute, it has not been well received by everyone.
Indeed, last season, players like Dani Carvajal, who was more consistent than any other player and won every possible trophy, even more than Rodri, didn’t receive the same recognition from voters. Even Jude Bellingham, who had an outstanding season with Real Madrid and led England to the final of Euro 2024 while being named Player of the Match several times, wasn’t as widely praised as he deserved.
It’s worth noting that last season, the Spanish midfielder played 46 matches for the Sky Blues, scoring 9 goals and providing 12 assists. Meanwhile, Vinícius Júnior played 37 matches, scoring 21 goals and providing 9 assists. In the Champions League, he was the key player who helped secure Real Madrid’s title last season.
Rodri remains convinced that he fully deserves the award, stating that he would have voted for himself in first place, Carvajal in second, and Vinícius in third if he had been part of the jury. It’s clear that everyone has their own opinion on the award, but at Real Madrid, the Ballon d’Or 2024 going to someone outside Carlo Ancelotti’s squad is seen as a scandal.
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