Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri clinched the men’s Ballon d’Or on Monday, following an impressive season with his fourth straight Premier League title and a Euro 2024 victory.
While the award was a significant achievement for Rodri, Real Madrid decided to boycott the ceremony at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris due to what they perceived as a slight toward Vinicius Junior.
The Real Madrid forward, who had a standout season contributing to the team’s Liga and Champions League titles, was considered by many as a frontrunner.
In a surprising announcement hours before the ceremony, Real Madrid said they would not be attending, suggesting that his teammate Dani Carvajal deserved the prize if Vinicius were overlooked.
Real Madrid’s spokesperson reportedly told AFP that the Ballon d’Or’s criteria “do not respect Real Madrid,” leading to their absence.
Rodri’s achievements in the 2022-23 season were undeniable. He was instrumental in helping Manchester City secure the Premier League title over Arsenal, and he was awarded the tournament’s best player at Euro 2024, where Spain emerged victorious in Germany.
The midfielder’s importance to City is underscored by his on-field dominance and presence. Manager Pep Guardiola hails him as “the best” in his position. Guardiola highlights Rodri's vision, skill, and mental resilience and describes him as a complete player.
In addition to his playmaking and defensive capabilities, Rodri has a knack for scoring pivotal goals, such as his winner in the 2023 Champions League final and his equalizer for Spain in the Euro 2024 knockout stages.
His role has been so central to Manchester City’s success that their last four league defeats occurred when he wasn’t on the field.
Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati won the women’s Ballon d’Or earlier in the night after leading her team to a historic continental quadruple. Her second consecutive win adds to her accomplishments, including a Nations League victory.
Despite the Amaury group, which organizes the Ballon d’Or, insisting no player or club knew the winner beforehand, Real Madrid decided to skip the event.
