Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has voiced his displeasure over Vinicius Junior missing out on this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Speaking at the Global Soccer Awards, Ronaldo said the Real Madrid forward deserved the prestigious award, which instead went to Manchester City’s Rodri in October.
“In my opinion, he deserved to win the Golden Ball. It was unfair,” Ronaldo said, adding,
“Rodri deserved it too, but they should have given it to Vinicius because he won the Champions League.”
The 39-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or five times, made these remarks months after Rodri claimed the award. The midfielder’s achievements include helping City secure their fourth consecutive Premier League title and Spain’s Euro 2024 victory.
A special night with the family ❤️🏆 pic.twitter.com/vAkUmXU5vx
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 27, 2024Vinicius Jr’s Controversial Snub
Vinicius Junior, who guided Real Madrid to a record-breaking 15th Champions League title, was the runner-up. This year’s ceremony in Paris faced backlash as Real Madrid boycotted the event, protesting the decision.
Read: Rodri Clinches Ballon d’Or 2024 Overcoming Vinicius Jr.
The Ballon d’Or winner is selected by an international jury of 100 specialist journalists. While Rodri’s accomplishments were widely praised, many, including Ronaldo, believe Vinicius deserved the top honour for his Champions League triumph.
Only Lionel Messi, with eight Ballon d’Or wins, surpasses Ronaldo in the number of awards. This latest controversy adds to the debate over the criteria for the football world’s most prestigious accolade.
