Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reignited the debate surrounding the 2024 Ballon d’Or, criticising the decision to award Manchester City’s Rodri the prestigious honour instead of one of his own players, Soccernet.football reports.
Perez voiced his frustration, claiming that the award should have gone to Vinicius Junior, who had an outstanding year, winning both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League with Madrid.
Despite being the early favourite for the Ballon d’Or, Vinicius was overlooked in favour of Rodri, who became the first defensive midfielder in history to win the award.
The 28-year-old’s achievements included securing a Premier League title with Manchester City and lifting the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain. Rodri triumphed by just 41 voting points ahead of Vinicius, a result that shocked many, including Perez.
Upon hearing that Vinicius would not win, Real Madrid opted to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony, refusing to send any representatives to the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
The decision sparked further controversy when Rodri himself revealed that, had he not been in the running, he would have chosen Madrid’s Dani Carvajal to win the award over Vinicius.
Shockingly, several Ballon d’Or voters did not even place the Brazilian in their top ten, leaving Perez astounded.
Speaking at the club’s annual assembly, Perez slammed the current voting system, suggesting it was flawed and in need of reform.
“Rodri is a great player, he’s from Madrid, and he has our affection. He deserved a Ballon d’Or, but not this one. He deserved it the year before. This year, the Ballon d’Or should have gone to a Real Madrid player: Vinicius Jr, or our captain Dani Carvajal, or even Jude Bellingham,” Perez stated.
He also questioned the credibility of certain journalists, who help determine the winner.
“Some of [the voters] didn’t even include Vinicius in the top 10. Can anyone understand journalists not thinking Vinicius Jr is one of the best in the world?” Perez continued. “The Ballon d’Or should be independently organized, and it should be in the hands of people who are recognized.”
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi won the 2023 Ballon d’Or, marking a record-extending eighth win for the legendary Argentine after leading his country to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Messi’s triumph further cemented his place in history as the only player to win the award with three different clubs: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami.