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The 2024 Ballon D’or was won in which some would say a controversial matter by Spanish and Manchester City midfielder Rodri. The Spaniard played a pivotal role in both his club and countries domestic and international success, helping Manchester City to their fourth Premier League title in as many years along with his Euro 2024 campaign culminating in him winning player of the tournament and taking the trophy back to Spain. All in all, he had an outstanding year, yet there remain questions to if he deserved to take home the prestigious Ballon D’or trophy.
Real Madrid and Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr was the bookies favourite to take home the Ballon D’or in Paris last night, however, he did not even attend the event after he was informed that he was not going to win the award. As a matter of fact, there was no Real Madrid representative at the ceremony, despite three of their players making the top four of the men’s Ballon D’or rankings (Vinicius Jr, Bellingham, Carvajal), as well as the club winning Men’s Club of the Year. It was rumoured that the club pulled out all representatives close to the beginning of the ceremony, with both Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham’s reserved seats being taken away with less than an hour of the awards show commencing. It can only be interpreted that Real Madrid were shocked and disappointed that Vinicius Jr was not going to receive the award and essentially boycotted the prestigious awards show in an almost protest. As previously mentioned, Vinicius Jr was the clear favourite to win the Ballon D’or last night but did he in fact deserve to beat Rodri?
Vinicius did have an outstanding season himself, scoring and winning in the Champions League final at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund taking Real Madrid to fifteen Champions League titles. Winning La Liga, playing a key part in Real Madrid’s domestic success. The Brazilian scored twenty-four goals and registered eleven assists during the year for Real Madrid which was a catalyst for both domestic and European success for the club. There is no doubt that Vinicius Jr had a Ballon D’or worthy season, with the accolades he achieved and the statistical prowess he registered.
The only drawback that may have been seen was the lack of success internationally with Brazil. They were beaten in the Copa America Quarter-Final by Uruguay on penalties, in a game in which Vinicius Jr did not play due to suspension. That may be the deciding factor in how Rodri narrowly pipped the Brazilian to the top spot. Rodri won player of the tournament in the international tournament he took part in, whilst Vinicius Jr, playing for a highly regarded and expecting of success nation in Brazil, bowed out in the Quarter-Final.
There is no doubt that Rodri and Vinicius Jr are both phenomenal players for their club and country, and both had exceptional personal seasons. Rodri is regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world and is statistically proven to play a pivotal role for both club and country, Vinicius Jr is an exciting, prolific, efficient winger who provided a lot of goals in an exceptional season for his club.
We are looking at two completely differing players who both can be argued to be deserving of the top spot. For me, the international success of Rodri stands out and would have probably been the deciding factor in the vote going his way. His importance for his club and country winning the titles that they did is irreplaceable, he has long been regarded the deciding factor in Manchester City’s success and he was able to prove his brilliance in a differing environment, which for me, solidified his place as the 2024 Ballon D’or winner.
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