- Cristiano Ronaldo criticized the credibility of the Ballon d’Or ceremony last month
- The former Real Madrid star insisted that Vinicius Jr deserved to win the award
- LISTEN NOW: It’s all starting! New line-up, some new faces, but optimism has faded at Old Trafford
Rodri has responded to Cristiano Ronaldo by calling the Ballon d’Or “unfair” after the Manchester City star received the award in October.
Ronaldo appeared to question the credibility of the historic awards ceremony while attending the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards.
In this event, Vinicius Jr was named best male footballer of the year, while Rodri won the equivalent award at the Ballon d’Or in Paris.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner insisted Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr should also have received the honor for his achievements in 2024.
Ronaldo said: “Vinicius Jr should have won the Ballon d’Or, in my opinion it was clear.”
‘It was unfair. “That’s why I love the Globe Soccer Awards, they’re honest.”
Rodri responded to Cristiano Ronaldo’s claims that his Ballon d’Or victory was ‘unfair’
Ronaldo made that claim when he attended the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards last month.
Rodri was asked about Ronaldo’s statements in an interview with a Spanish newspaper ASand the star called the comments “surprise.”
“Well, it was really a surprise, because he knows better than anyone how this award works and, above all, how the winner is chosen,” Rodri said.
‘This year, the journalists who vote have decided that I should win.
“Probably those same journalists were the ones who at some point voted for him to win it, and I imagine he would have agreed then.”
Rodri had won the men’s Ballon d’Or after helping City become the first team to win four consecutive top-flight titles in England.
The midfielder was also an integral component in Luis de la Fuente’s Spanish team that won Euro 2024.
Rodri, who had only lost one club game in 18 months, became the first Premier League player to achieve that feat since Ronaldo himself with Manchester United in 2008.
His victory was controversial and Real Madrid chose to withdraw a delegation of 50 people just hours before the ceremony.
Ronaldo had claimed that Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr, pictured, should have won the annual award.
Rodri affirmed that Ronaldo would have agreed with the Ballon d’Or voters for his five wins
The Spanish giants had reportedly been tipped off that Vinicius, who was the bookies’ favorite for the award, had not won.
Since the ceremony, Vinicius has received the FIFA Best Player award, as well as being honored at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards.