Manchester City and Spain national team superstar Rodri Hernández Cascante won his first Ballon d’Or — an award soccer fans were sure was going to Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinícius Jr. — on Oct. 28. Rodri became the first midfielder since Luka Modric in 2018 to claim the award.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony in the 21st century has been the Messi and Ronaldo show; the pair have won a combined 13 Ballon d’Ors (Messi with eight, Ronaldo with five). Since the first of the 13 was won by Ronaldo in 2008, there have only been two different winners prior to this year: Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022. Rodri becomes only the third non-Messi or Ronaldo player to win the competition since 2008.
Since joining City in 2019 from Spanish side Atlético Madrid, Rodri has been a fundamental part of the midfield, leading the team to an impressive collection of silverware: four Premier League titles, two EFL Cups, one FA Cup, the Community Shield, the Club World Cup and of course, one Champions League.
While playing for arguably the best team in the world, what sets Rodri apart is his exceptional influence beyond his football club. His commanding presence in midfield for Spain’s national team has been remarkable, culminating in his first international trophy this summer as Spain dominated the Euros. His consistent excellence at both the club and international levels has established him as one of Europe’s most coveted players.
Rodri was a strong candidate — definitely in the top three — but were his performances and accomplishments this year for club and country enough to justify winning a Ballon d’Or?
The race for the elusive trophy was seemingly going to Vinícius, who played a big role in Real Madrid winning La Liga and the Champions League last year.
It was not until the morning of the ceremony that Real Madrid made a controversial decision to not allow Vinícius and fellow nominee Jude Bellingham to travel to Paris for the awards after news emerged that Rodri was going to win.
This news angered fans from both sides of the story; people in support of Vinícius were shocked and saddened that the award was not going to go to him, which sparked angry tweets saying the outcome was a “robbery.”
Many were angry with Real Madrid for what they deemed unsportsmanlike behavior in not supporting Rodri’s win. This incident brought to light ongoing issues of racism in football, as the Brazilian claims that his loss was because of his ongoing fight against racism.
The consensus around social media is that Vinícius lost the Ballon d’Or due to the three key criteria: individual performances and decisive and impressive character, team performances and achievements, and class and fair play. Critics argue that his fiery attitude during matches fails to satisfy the class and fair play rule.
Vinícius Jr. does not shy away from fiery moments on the field; his “trolling” attitude is often highlighted over his performances. Compared to Rodri’s composed attitude on the field, Vinícius Jr. is the trickier player.
Nevertheless, Vinícius’ attitude on the field should not undermine his talent and importance to Real Madrid.
It is important to note that the results of the Ballon d’Or were not a complete farce; Rodri did deserve credit for his excellent performances throughout the years.
In recent times, the Ballon d’Or has been at the center of criticism for its integrity. Fans would often complain that Messi and Ronaldo won more Ballon d’Ors for their stature than for their year to year consistent performances. There is no doubt that Messi and Ronaldo are the GOATs — greatest of all time — of soccer, but years such as 2010, 2013 and most recently 2023 saw them win when others should have instead.
It is understandable that Vinícius Jr. fans are disappointed; he was projected to win until the day of the ceremony. However, Rodri should be congratulated and respected for his stellar season.
