X reacts as Rodri wins Ballon d’Or 2024 following Vinicius Junior drama
Posted By Joe E
October 28, 2024
11:04 pm
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There we have it. After a surprisingly controversial day, Rodri has been named the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
The Manchester City midfielder claimed the prize for the first time and became the first Premier League player to triumph in the Ballon d’Or since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Following an exceptional 2023/24 campaign in which he won the Premier League and Euro 2024, the 28-year-old beat Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior to the award.
However, the evening wasn’t without some drama. Reports had emerged earlier on Monday that claimed Madrid’s Vinicius and the club’s other representatives wouldn’t attend the ceremony after suspecting that Rodri would be crowned champion. Said reports turned out to be true.
Unsurprisingly, the news ruffled a few feathers online.
🚨 BREAKING: Vinicius Jr will NOT travel to Paris as Real Madrid know he will NOT win the Ballon d’Or.
No one from Real Madrid will attend the ceremony. No Florentino Pérez, no Vini Jr, no Carlo Ancelotti, no Jude Bellingham. pic.twitter.com/qN9PaYjmR0
Madrid’s intel was accurate as Rodri became the first midfielder to win the award since Luka Modric in 2018. As much as their was significant outrage from certain corners, there were plenty who felt Rodri was a worthy winner.
The Man City ace enjoyed a truly remarkable 2023/24 campaign and few can argue against the Spaniard being the world’s best midfielder.
Rodri was FAR more consistent than Vinicius over the entire season. He had FAR less bad games, and he had FAR more great games. His floor was much higher.
Played exceptional to very well in every single tournament for both club and country.
Rodri is the best player in the world. No one is more consistently brilliant. No one is more complete. He deserves the Ballon d’Or. It would be a rare moment of sanity in a sport obsessed with headlines.
Of course, the Ballon d’Or wasn’t the only award dished out at the ceremony in Paris.
The Ballon d’Or Femenin was handed to Aitana Bonmati for a second successive year after her sensational season with Barcelona. The midfielder was the significant favourite for the prize and equalled team-mate Alexia Putellas’ record of two victories.
Aitana Bonmatí makes it back-to-back Ballon d’Or wins! 🇪🇸💫
SHE’S DONE IT AGAIN! Aitana Bonmati wins her second consecutive Ballon d’Or! The queen of football keeps proving she’s on a whole other level. pic.twitter.com/nNvGyAYJ63
La Blaugrana’s men’s side had another victor in the form of Lamine Yamal as he scooped the Kopa Trophy for best young player, while Emiliano Martinez picked up the Yashin Trophy for leading goalkeeper for the second year in a row.
And there was time for Harry Kane to grab an honour of his own, winning the Gerd Muller Trophy for the most goals scored last season. Kylian Mbappe produced the same number and also won, but the Frenchman was on strict orders from his club not to attend the ceremony.
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