The worldwide reaction to Rodri’s Ballon d’Or as Vini Jr misses out
The surprise decision to award Rodri the Ballon d’Or has made the headlines across the world.
64 years after Luis Suárez Miramontes last lifted the men’s Ballon d’Or, Spain once again celebrated a historic victory as Rodrigo Hernández was named the best football player of the year at the Châtelet Theatre in Paris.
The Manchester City midfielder, sidelined by injury for the rest of the season, claimed the prestigious title, marking a momentous achievement for Spanish football. He shared this historic night with Aitana Bonmatí, who also took home the award, cementing Spain’s dominance in the sport. Lamine Yamal, the Kopa Trophy winner, and Jenni Hermoso, the recipient of the Socrates Award, added further glory to the occasion.
However, the night’s historic achievements were somewhat overshadowed in the media by international headlines focusing on Real Madrid’s snub of UEFA and France Football, the event organisers, after it became clear that Vinicius would not win. This controversy diluted what should have been a purely celebratory moment for Spanish football.
L´Equipe: Rodri, a unique emotion
“With a style less flamboyant than Vinicius, who is often hailed as the best in the world in his position, Rodri, at 28 years old, has risen to become the best player on the planet. After nearly two decades of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating the Ballon d’Or, it was Rodri’s influence and his ability to elevate the collective team effort that earned him the prestigious award.”
Le Parisien: Rodri crowned to everyone’s surprise
”Euphoria at the end of a golden year, tarnished by a single blemish on an otherwise perfect 2024. Rodri’s victory was a surprise—perhaps even a shock—especially with Vinicius Junior, the Real Madrid star, expected to lift the award. Vinicius, the embodiment of a future superstar, fits the mold of past Ballon d’Or winners far more closely. In protest, Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony, certain their player would not win. Yet, on this Monday evening at the Théâtre du Châtelet, a different kind of football emerged victorious.”
La Gazzetta: “Rodri wins Ballon d’Or! Vinicius defies...”
“Real Madrid did not take it well—far from it. The plane meant to carry the club’s prominent delegation from the Bernabéu to Paris, where they were to accompany Vinicius in receiving the Ballon d’Or, was scheduled to depart at three in the afternoon. But it never took off. Not due to a technical issue, but because of a sudden shift in mood—and consequently, in plans—among Real Madrid’s top brass.”
Tuttosport: “Rodrigo wins the Ballon d’Or; Vinicius and Madrid are absent and controversial”
“Manchester City and Spain’s talent triumphed, overshadowing Ancelotti’s squad, as the entire Real Madrid delegation boycotted the event. Vinicius, Carvajal, and Bellingham—defeated but notably absent—joined the rest of the Real Madrid contingent in protest, furious over the outcome.”
Bild: “City star Rodri wins Ballon d’Or”
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, 24, did not win the Ballon d’Or. In response, club president Florentino Perez, 77, made the decision that no representatives or players from the team would attend the ceremony in Paris. Despite Real Madrid being recognised as the best team and Carlo Ancelotti, 65, as the best coach, no one from the club was present at the event."
Kicker: “Vinicius is ahead; Rodri wins the Ballon d’Or”
“The final result fell short of many expectations. Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior had been considered one of the top contenders for the world’s most prestigious individual football award. However, when news of the decision leaked just hours before the ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Real Madrid responded with clear discontent. The club, originally set to attend with a 50-member delegation, canceled its flight and decided to boycott the event in the French capital.”
The Telegraph: “Real Madrid snub Ballon d’Or after Rodri win”
“Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri won the Ballon d’Or for the world’s best player on Monday, beating Brazilian Vinicius Jr and Englishman Jude Bellingham, both of Real Madrid.”
The Athletic: “Rodri is a deserved winner of the Ballon d’Or - no matter what Real Madrid think”
“But the way that Madrid have reacted to the news that one of their boys has not won this year’s edition might make you think that the actual winner is one of those off-the-wall votes, or the result of some kind of shady string-pulling...
By Monday afternoon, though, the world had discovered that it would in fact be Rodri only via Madrid’s very public and very unashamed meltdown. They were quickly telling journalists that “the Ballon d’Or and UEFA does not respect us” and that the award “no longer exists for us”.
The Times: Rodri wins Ballon d’Or; Madrid boycott awards over Vinicius snub
“Real Madrid, the club with the most individual Ballon d’Or winners in history, boycotted the awards ceremony, dramatically pulling a delegation of around 50 staff, including star players, out of the event in Paris just hours before it was due to start. Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, was subsequently crowned the world’s best player this year.
There had been widespread expectation that Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior would collect the 2024 men’s trophy but, apparently tipped off by the players’ entourage that Rodri was likely to have collected more votes from the global panel of 100 journalists who choose the winner, Madrid abruptly cancelled an afternoon charter flight scheduled to take their delegation to the French capital.
Mirror: “Rodri, surprise winner after ceremony boycotted by Madrid”
“The Spanish club chose to point the finger at the organisers and boycott the ceremony and has accused UEFA of disrespecting them. There is anger in Madrid and with the entire club entourage.”
Daily Star: “Rodri wins Ballon d’Or despite being booed by fans”
“Manchester City’s Rodri has been crowned the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, while Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid have refused to travel to the prestigious ceremony.”
Folha de Sao Paulo: “Rodri’s victory a slap in the face from UEFA”
“The night when Vinicius Junior was expected to win turned into a huge mess. Aware that the award would go to the Spaniard, the Brazilian did not even attend the ceremony in Paris. However, the Ballon d’Or is not the Oscar and footballers are not used to attending awards ceremonies and leaving empty-handed. Real Madrid considered Rodri’s victory as a slap in the face from UEFA, the European confederation that co-sponsors the trophy.”
O Globo: “Rodri beats Vinicius and wins the award for best player in the world”
“Individual awards in a team sport invite controversy, often injustice, so often an obsession becomes nonsense. In the age of celebrity worship, they satisfy the public and drive the industry. In countries lacking in achievements like Brazil, these take on exaggerated importance, transformed into a false measure of our place in the hierarchy of the global game. Which explains why the decision surrounding Vinicius Junior, the best player last season, has shaken things as though the Brazilian team itself had suffered an undeserved defeat.”
Record: Rodri and Bonmatí win the Ballon d’Or marked by the controversy surrounding Vinicius
“It was another night filled with controversy surrounding the awards ceremony, which began early when Real Madrid decided to boycott the event in Paris. They received information that Vinícius Jr., the leading candidate for this year’s award, would not be taking the stage. Consequently, the club canceled the trip for approximately 50 people to the French capital, along with the live broadcast of the gala on Real Madrid TV.”
Mundo Deportivo: “Aitana and Lamine lead the Barça party in Paris”
“From Madrid to Paris, from the Santiago Bernabéu to the Châtelet Theatre, FC Barcelona is still celebrating its triumph at the 67th Ballon d’Or Gala, where it secured three of the main awards. The Manchester City midfielder and Spanish national team player, emotional and on crutches, was escorted by Weah and Drogba as he finally claimed the award from Vinicius, who did not attend the event.”