What happened on Ballon d’Or night? Why did Real Madrid refuse to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony? Why did Rodri get the award over Vinicius? This article will explain to you.
On Monday, Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri won the men’s Ballon d’Or. He won his fourth straight Premier League title and the Euro 2024 title, but Real Madrid boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
A Big Twist on Ballon d’Or Ceremony
The organizers of the Ballon d’Or said the winner’s identity was a secret before the awards. However, on the day of the ceremony, no one from Real Madrid attended, leading to many discussions online.
Vinicius was considered a favorite for the award. On September 24, Marca reported that Vinicius knew he would win the Ballon d’Or. During the Spanish national derby on October 27, Vinicius clashed with Gavi, saying he would win the award.
But a few hours before the Ballon d’Or ceremony, Real Madrid announced they would not attend. So, when the best club of the year was announced, no one went up to accept the award.
After the event, Vinicius posted on social media, “I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready,” showing he believes he deserves the honor. Other Real Madrid players also supported him on social media.
Eu farei 10x se for preciso. Eles não estão preparados.
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) October 28, 2024
Why Did Rodri Win?
Rodri became the first player born in the 1990s to win the Ballon d’Or. Let’s look at Rodri’d stats to see if they support this decision.
Asa key player for Manchester City in the 2023-24 season, Rodri started the most games (50) and had the most minutes played (4,325). Last season, City won 38, drew 11, and lost only one of the 50 matches Rodri played, which was in the FA Cup final against Manchester United. In the 9 matches he missed, City only won 5 and lost 4.
Rodri contributed to 22 goals in those 50 matches (9 goals and 13 assists). He averaged 111.2 passes every 90 minutes with a 92.3% accuracy. This was more than any other player in Europe’s top leagues. In fact, his passing average was 8.8 passes higher than the next player, Granit Xhaka, who averaged 102.4. Rodri also set new records for successful passes in a single Premier League season (3,359) and successful passes in the opponent’s half (2,122) since the 2003-04 season.
The Ballon d’Or recognizes Rodri’s performance in the 2023-24 season. Based on Rodri’s stats, he truly deserves this honor.
Rodri is currently out of the Premier League season with a leg injury, but I’m sure that when the player recovers, he’ll show us on the pitch that he deserves the Ballon d’Or.
Rodri’s Ballon d’Or Achievements
- This is the first player born in the 1990s to win the Ballon d’Or after 16 wins by players from the 1980s.
- This is the first Spanish player to win the Ballon d’Or in nearly 64 years.
- This is the first Premier League player to win the Ballon d’Or in 16 years.
- This is Manchester City’s first Ballon d’Or.
Who Won the Ballon d’Or?
- Best Clubs in Men’s and Women’s Football: Real Madrid, Barcelona.
- Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or: Rodri, Bonmati.
