2024 Ballon D'Or Conflict, Rodri Opens Voice

Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d'Or with a narrow advantage over Vinicius Junior (Instagram/@mancity).

JAKARTA - The selection of the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner gave birth to debate. Many people think the winner is Vinicius Junior, not Rodri.

Rodri won the Ballon d'Or with 1,170 points, 41 points ahead of Vinicius (1,129 points).

Vinicius was inflamed that he did not attend the awarding night as a form of boycott. His colleagues at Real Madrid also did not come at all.

In fact, Los Blancos won the award as Team of the Year and Carlo Ancelotti was named the Best Coach.

Support also flowed for Vinicius from Real Madrid players to the Brazilian national team who did not recognize Rodri's victory and considered the 24-year-old striker to be more worthy of winning.

Rodri finally opened his voice after about two weeks of silence. He said that he had no problems with Vinicius and Real Madrid despite the boycott.

"Why do I feel hurt (because Vinicius is not present)? That's my moment, to be enjoyed with family."

"The last thing I think about is people who are not there and don't want to participate," said Rodrid.

Rodri is an important part of Manchester City's victory in last season's Premier League title race and the Spanish national team won Euro 2024.

While Vinicius helped Madrid win the double title, namely La Liga and the Champions League last season.

The 28-year-old midfielder actually agreed that Vinicius was also the best player in the world. However, he could not do much because the election was based on the vote.

"I'm glad people vote according to their feelings. That's someone's opinion."

"I have great respect for Vinicius, Real Madrid, and anyone who knows me knows that. I will choose Carvajal and Vinicius. Maybe Carvajal is the second," said Rodri.

France Football is the magazine that held the Ballon d'Or award. The voting report states that each of the 100 judges (international journalists) for the male footballer award lists the top 10 candidates for the Ballon d'Or.

Each vote in the first place is worth 15 points, followed by 12, 10, eight, seven, five, four, three, two, and one point for the 10th position. This means that there are a total of 6,633 points.

France Football data also shows another surprising trend, with Atalanta and Nigeria strikers Ademola Lookman, joining Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Lautaro Martinez, and Rodri as non-Madri players who received the first vote.

Of the players who won the Champions League with Madrid last season, Jude Bellingham (5), Dani Carvajal (4), and Toni Kroos (2) all got a lot of consideration as the best players for 2023/2024 by the judges.

Five judges did not vote for Rodri in the top 10 of their choice and three judges did not include Vinicius.

Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal are in third and fourth place in the poll.