Rodri still recalls the moment his name was announced. He’d just won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, a grand achievement he’d worked toward his entire life. It felt like the culmination of a perfect year until Cristiano Ronaldo voiced his disapproval, insisting that Vinícius Júnior deserved the award.
Rodri was stunned. He said, “He knows better than anyone how this award works and, above all, how the winner is chosen. This year, the journalists who vote considered that I should win it.”
Ronaldo’s Rodri snub
Ronaldo’s words struck a nerve. The five-time winner’s insinuation that Rodri was an unworthy recipient overshadowed what should’ve been a triumphant period. Rodri couldn’t hide his surprise. He pointed out that “the same journalists who once voted for him also voted for me,” a subtle reminder that the voting process isn’t random or biased and that merit comes in different forms. He’d steered Manchester City to a Premier League title and also helped Spain secure the European Championship. For him, that was more than enough to prove he belonged on the podium.
Real Madrid’s boycott of the Paris ceremony deepened the controversy. Vinícius had played brilliantly, scoring in the Champions League final, yet Rodri felt the public debate was overshadowing everything his own season had meant to him. He admitted, “It has changed my life. Many things that I could do before, obviously, I can no longer do.” His ACL injury in September piled on more stress, forcing him to step back from the spotlight.
In candid moments, Rodri says he’s learning from the pressure and even using it for motivation. The injury meant extra time to reflect on how far he’s come despite missing the camaraderie and routine of training. He tries not to linger on Ronaldo’s critique, even if fans and pundits still bring it up. The midfielder believes debates about fairness will always swirl around major individual awards, especially when players from the game’s biggest clubs remain involved.
He’s not naive, though. He respects Vinícius’s incredible run in Europe and acknowledges that many supporters felt the Brazilian deserved his share of the glory. But Rodri wants people to remember that a complete season, full of key performances and trophies, can earn just as much acclaim as one spectacular final. He’s proud to have proven himself, and he hopes his perseverance will inspire others who wonder if they’ll ever get their due. For now, he’ll focus on getting healthy and helping his team, even as a legend’s doubt hovers in the background.
