Ballon d’Or: Rodri emerges winner amidst Real Madrid snub

The 2024 Ballon d’Or awards will go down as the most salty of all editions as Manchester City star Rodri emerges winner.

A predictable finale it is following the leak that came out earlier today revealing the Spanish midfielder as the recipient of the 2024 Ballon d’Or over the likes of Real Madrid trio of Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.

The choice of Rodri as the overall best in France Football’s ranking was met with a lot controversy, with Real Madrid taking it upon itself to boycott the ceremony entirely in solidarity to their player; Vinicius Jr. who was widely rumored to win the golden ball.

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Former Real Madrid player, Toni Kroos did not stay coy on the matter as the German took to his Instagram to solidarize with his former teammate as well.

Fair play to Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, the Spaniard had a blast of a 2023/24 season where his contributions led to Manchester City winning the Premier League and a quarter-final exit to Real Madrid the eventual winners of the Champions League.

Rodri had this to say in his victory speech;

“One day told my father: stop, I leave football, my dream is over. But he told me… no, keep going, let’s try until the end. Today I’m here and I’m proud, I have to say thanks.”

The 2024 Ballon d’Or becomes the first edition of the awards ceremony to exclude a representative of Real Madrid at the event, despite the club and its manager, Carlo Ancelotti winning prizes.

The Italian manager was voted as the Manager of the Year, and the La Liga club was voted Men’s Club of the Year with no one in Paris to receive the awards.