Cristiano Ronaldo weighed in on Vinicius Jr.’s Ballon d’Or snub, offering his perspective on the outcome. Despite being a strong contender for the prestigious award, the Real Madrid star finished behind Manchester City’s Rodri.
Vinicius received The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award shortly afterward and was named Player of the Year at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. Meanwhile, Real Madrid legend Ronaldo was honored with the Best Middle East Player award at the same event. Ronaldo criticized the decision to overlook Vinicius for the Ballon d’Or, calling it “unfair.” The Portuguese star also remarked that the Globe Soccer Awards, partly owned by his agent Jorge Mendes, offer a more equitable recognition process compared to football’s most prestigious accolade.
Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or recipient, shared his thoughts on the debate. “Vinicius Jr should have won the Ballon d’Or, in my opinion it was clear. It was UNFAIR. This is why I love Globe Soccer Awards, they are honest. They give it to Rodri, he deserved it too, but they should have given it to Vinicius because he won the Champions League and scored in the final.”
🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo: “Vinicius Jr should have won the Ballon d’Or, in my opinion it was clear”.
“It was UNFAIR. This is why I love Globe Soccer Awards, they are honest”. pic.twitter.com/kQqhNBZXHE
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 27, 2024
Vinicius Jr. delivered an exceptional performance during the 2023-24 season, netting 25 goals and providing 12 assists in 40 matches across all competitions. His contributions were instrumental in Real Madrid securing both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles. However, despite his stellar efforts, the individual accolade went to Rodri, who not only won the Premier League with Manchester City but also lifted the UEFA Euro 2024 trophy with Spain.
Cristiano Ronaldo has experienced his share of contentious Ballon d’Or decisions, most notably in 2018 when many believed he deserved his sixth award, but his former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric claimed the honor instead. Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr. continues to shine this season, tallying 13 goals and nine assists in just 20 appearances, showcasing his remarkable form.
Meanwhile, the two-time Best Middle East Player award winner is still chasing his first trophy with Al-Nassr, as the team currently sits fourth in the Saudi Pro League standings. With the league on a winter break, Ronaldo is set to return to action on January 9 when Al-Nassr faces Al-Akhdoud.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
