Cristiano Ronaldo Criticizes Ballon d’Or, Claims Vinicius Jr. Deserved the Golden Ball
Dubai [UAE], December 28 – Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese footballer, has voiced his disappointment with the 2024 Ballon d’Or award, asserting that Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. should have been the recipient instead. Ronaldo’s comments came during the prestigious Globe Soccer Awards, where he spoke about his belief that Vinicius deserved recognition for his outstanding performances over the past season.
In October, Manchester City’s Rodri was named the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner. The Spanish midfielder played a key role in securing his club’s fourth consecutive English Premier League title. Rodri’s impressive form continued on the international stage, where he contributed significantly to Spain’s victory in the 2024 UEFA European Championship. Spain triumphed over England 2-1 in the final, with Rodri also being named Player of the Tournament.
Despite Rodri’s remarkable achievements, Ronaldo expressed that he felt Vinicius deserved to win the coveted Ballon d’Or. “In my opinion, he [Vinicius] deserved to win the Golden Ball. It was unfair in my opinion. I say here in front of everybody. They gave it to Rodri, and he deserved it too, but they should have given it to Vinicius because he won the Champions League and scored in the final,” Ronaldo remarked, according to Goal.com.
Vinicius Jr., who has been a standout player for Real Madrid, played a pivotal role in the club’s success last season. His contributions were instrumental in Real Madrid winning both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles. The Brazilian forward finished as the club’s top scorer, netting 24 goals across all competitions.
However, despite his club success, Vinicius’ time with Brazil in international tournaments didn’t go as planned. He was part of the Brazil squad that was eliminated from the Copa America in the quarter-finals by Uruguay, which dampened his overall international season.
At the same Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo also received the ‘Best Middle East Player’ award, adding another honor to his illustrious career. Speaking further about the awards, Ronaldo praised the Globe Soccer Awards for their transparency. “You know these galas, they always do the same thing. This is why I love Globe Soccer Awards, they are honest,” he added.
While Rodri’s achievement was celebrated globally, Ronaldo’s endorsement of Vinicius Jr. as the true Ballon d’Or winner has sparked further debate on the criteria and fairness of such prestigious awards in football.
