Against all expectations, France Football awarded the 2024 Ballon d’Or to Rodri on Monday evening in Paris. Vinicius Jr was announced as the favourite, but did not win the award. 48 hours after the ceremony, a curious revelation about the organisers broke in Spain.
Rodri’s name was on everyone’s lips at the Ballon d’Or 2024 gala. Considered one of the best midfielders in the world, the Spaniard has made a crucial difference for Manchester City. In the 2022-2023 season, he was one of the main architects of the treble triumph, and last season he took La Roja to the Euros after winning the Premier League with the Skyblues. Yet his victory came as a surprise to observers of the football world, as Vinícius Jr’s dazzling performances seemed to make him the ideal candidate for the award.
The Auriverde international has thrilled Madrid fans throughout the year, with decisive goals and technical dominance propelling Real Madrid to the summit. Vinícius’ goals in La Liga and the Champions League epitomised the determination that took Carlo Ancelotti’s side to the top. But despite his exploits, it was Rodri who was crowned the winner.
Ballon d’Or, the surprising news on France Football that will upset Vinicius
Two days after the Ballon d’Or ceremony, France Football is at the centre of a new controversy. According to information from Cadena Cope and relayed by Bernabéu Digital, the organisers have asked the voting journalists not to make their votes public until next week, an unusual and unprecedented instruction. Until now, journalists’ votes have been made public soon after the gala, but this year the details of the vote are shrouded in mystery, and some see it as a way of minimising criticism. According to the media, France Football has indicated that it will not announce the details of the votes until next week, almost 14 days after the Ballon d’Or gala.
For Real Madrid and their supporters, Vinícius Jr’s defeat could be partly explained by an indirect influence from UEFA. UEFA is said to have played a role in the awarding of the Ballon d’Or, leading journalists to favour Rodri over the Brazilian player. This unprecedented intervention at a gala supposedly organised solely by France Football adds to the frustration of Real Madrid and its fans, who are convinced that Vinícius’ sporting merit should have taken precedence. In any case, the Ballon d’Or 2024 will undoubtedly be remembered not only for the name engraved on the trophy, but also for the controversy it sparked off.
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