Ballon d’Or Awards LIVE: Vinicius Jr claims ‘they’re not ready’ as Rodri crowned amid Real Madrid boycott
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner was revealed tonight with Rodri succeeding Lionel Messi
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Your support makes all the difference.Vinicius Jr took to social media to react after finishing second in the Ballon d’Or voting behind Manchester City’s Rodri after Real Madrid led a boycott of Monday night’s ceremony in protest of the result.
Vinicius had been widely tipped to win the men’s award after an outstanding season, but Real Madrid delegation cancelled their trip to the Paris ceremony at the last minute when the “leaked results” of the prestigious award showed Rodri had received the most votes ahead of the Brazilian and Jude Bellingham.
The 24-year-old, who was named Champions League player of the year after playing a starring role in Real Madrid’s 15th European Cup, took to Twitter/X and posted “I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.” He did not congratulate Rodri on on winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time, with the influential midfielder recognised for his role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.
Follow all the reaction from the Ballon d’Or ceremony with our live blog below:
Vinicius Jr reacts to Ballon d'Or result after losing to Rodri: ‘They’re not ready’
Vinicius Junior deserved to win the Ballon d’Or - his problem was that so did Rodri
Real Madrid boycott Ballon d’Or as Vinicius Jr loses out to Rodri
States of Play: Miguel Delaney answers your questions – from Man City’s court case to Newcastle’s takeover
Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or boycott was selfishly entitled – Vinicius Jr was no more deserving than Rodri
Although Rodri became just the second Spanish men’s player to lift the Ballon d’Or, the country’s premier club were barely anywhere to be seen. Despite more than one award going to the club or individuals within, nobody representing Real Madrid appeared in Paris as a dismal few days for the European champions got worse. At Manchester City, that knowledge added to the satisfaction of a worthy first winner. The relationship between the clubs is poor.
It all illustrates the increasing intrigue around an award that is supposed to be so singular, in rewarding football’s dominant individual player in a calendar year. And then some.
Real Madrid’s boycott was selfish – Rodri deserved to win the Ballon d’Or
The Manchester City man picked up the award while Real Madrid were a no-show at the ceremony
Real Madrid planned to send 50-person entourage to Ballon d’Or
France Football had made a point of telling media that the Ballon d’Or decision wouldn’t leak, only for Vinicius Junior’s camp to get wind on Sunday evening that he wouldn’t be winning the award.
Connections in the Spanish football federation were stating that Rodri had won it. The player himself was said to be extremely confident, and talking about it to teammates.
It was a shock to Madrid, since they had been so confident their odds-on favourite was going to win that they were preparing to send a party of 50 to the ceremony in Paris, with a five-hour broadcast planned for their official television station.
Club president Florentino Perez immediately scrapped all of that on finding out.
‘Finally not underrated’: Gundogan’s Rodri tribute
Ilkay Gundogan paid tribute to Manchester City team-mate Rodri, who he says is the “perfect midfielder”. Gundogan said he was “especially happy” to see a defensive player win the award and show football is about more than attacking talents.
“From today on he is finally not ‘underrated’ anymore Congratulations to my team-mate Rodri on wining the Ballon d’Or!” the German posted on Twitter/X.
“For me this is very well deserved! I’m especially happy that someone on a defensive position is winning this title and not always just the offensive players!
“Rodri is the perfect midfielder and there’s no one that plays his position better than he does - there are so many clubs in Europe that are looking for a world class holding midfielder, but in the end there’s only him!
“What a development in recent years.”
Harry Kane responds to Real Madrid boycott
Harry Kane responded to Real Madrid’s boycott of the Ballon d’Or after sharing the Gerd Muller award with Kylian Mbappe - who was not present at the Paris ceremony.
Kane and Mbappe both scored 52 goals for club and country last season and were recognised as the world’s top goalscorers - although only Kane was there to pick up the award with Mbappe joining Real Madrid’s protest.
“It was his personal decision not to be present,” Kane said afterwards.
“We both had a very good season and, like me, he scored 52 goals. It’s a great honour to be rewarded. We’ll have to ask him why he wasn’t there, but it’s an honour to be here tonight in any case.”
Barcelona’s Ballon d’Or tweet directed at Real Madrid?
Barcelona have certainly enjoyed the last few days, first winning El Clasico 4-0 at the Bernabeu and then winning a host of awards at the Ballon d’Or, including for Aitana Bonmati and Lamine Yamal.
With Real Madrid throwing their toys out of the pram and boycotting the ceremony, is it a stretch to say that this tweet from Barcelona was a subtle little dig at their rivals?
“We are truly honored to be here,” Barcelona said. “Thank you, @ballondor, for such a warm and gracious welcome.”
🤵♂️ We are truly honored to be here. Thank you, @ballondor, for such a warm and gracious welcome. 🤝#ballondor https://t.co/bSO4j6Jokq
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 28, 2024
Pep Guardiola’s reaction to Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win
Pep Guardiola reacts to Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win, becoming the first Manchester City player to win the award in the club’s history.
“What can I say? First, to congratulate him and all his family and their friends, it’s incredible news for him and for all of us.
“All Manchester City, our fans, we are so proud of him. We could never have imagined this years ago, that one player could receive this prestigious award.
“We are so delighted to share it with him and hopefully, it can give him energy to recover well for next season and be with us again.”
Pep Guardiola responds to Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or boycott
Pep Guardiola gives a lengthy answer when asked about Real Madrid’s decision not to attend Monday night’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, and pointed to Erling Haaland who last season won the Treble but finished second to Lionel Messi in the voting.
“Nothing to say. If they don’t want to go, it’s fine. If they want to go, it’s fine. We at Manchester City are not going to judge.
“Lst season, Erling won the treble, more than 50 goals. I said to him just being there he should be so, so happy and I said the same to Rodri. Last season, Erling should win, yes. Should Messi have won? Yes. It doesn’t matter.
“You and your teammates have done something amazing. Should it be Vinicius? Maybe. It’s not an elite group, it’s journalists who vote.”
Rodri reveals message from Carvajal despite Ballon d’Or snub
Rodri revealed he received a phone call from Spain team-mate and Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal - despite the club boycotting the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Real Madrid said in a statement that they did not understand why Carvajal did not meet the criteria to win the Ballon d’Or if Vinicius Jr was not awarded the top prize.
“I talked to Carvajal, he deserved it too!” Rodri told Marca. “The first call I received when I left the gala was from him.
“He’s a player with whom I’m very close, even more so now with the injury, he’s a player who shares the same values as me, he congratulated me.”
Why Rodri won the Ballon d’Or
Rodri has gone 52 games in the Premier League without defeat - a Manchester City record that goes all the way back to February 2023. He did not play in any of the three games they lost in the league in 2023/24.
The only games he lost last season were in the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United at Wembley and the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid on penalties. For Spain, Rodri has not lost since a defeat to Scotland in March 2023.
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