Kylian Mbappe Weighs In: Did Rodri Deserve the 2024 Ballon d’Or Over Vinicius Junior?
Kylian Mbappe has recently shared his candid thoughts on the controversial 2024 Ballon d’Or award, which saw Manchester City’s midfielder Rodri take home the prestigious trophy, ahead of Real Madrid’s own Vinicius Junior. In a revealing new interview, Mbappe didn’t shy away from expressing his opinion on the decision that sparked debate across the football world.
It’s been a few months since Rodri was crowned the Ballon d’Or winner at the glamorous ceremony held in Paris. His exceptional performances for Manchester City, instrumental in securing a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title, coupled with his accolade as Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament after Spain’s victory over England in the final, solidified his claim to the coveted award in the eyes of many.
Despite the widespread recognition of Rodri’s achievements, the result wasn’t without its detractors. Real Madrid, in a move that stunned the football community, decided to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony in protest. Their grievance? The belief that their star winger, Vinicius Junior, was unfairly overlooked for the top honor.
This high-profile boycott saw key Real Madrid figures including club president Florentino Perez, manager Carlo Ancelotti, and a contingent of nominated players – Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Kylian Mbappe himself (then still anticipated to join Real Madrid), Federico Valverde, and Antonio Rudiger – all abstain from attending the Paris event. The absence of such prominent figures certainly cast a shadow over the celebrations.
Mbappe’s comments emerged during an interview with the French newspaper Le Parisien, where he was discussing Ousmane Dembele’s potential Ballon d’Or prospects. The conversation naturally veered towards the recent award and the Rodri vs. Vinicius debate.
When questioned about Dembele’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or, Mbappe offered a revealing insight into his own perception of the award and the recent outcome: “What defines a Ballon d’Or player? Consider Rodri – is he a Ballon d’Or player in your view? Personally, I anticipated Vinicius receiving the Ballon d’Or, but ultimately, it was Rodri who was awarded.”
He continued, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the award: “Currently, predicting the Ballon d’Or winner is difficult. We shouldn’t dismiss anyone’s chances; any player could realistically win, perhaps even a goalkeeper. In the previous edition, my expectation was that Vinicius would win, but in the end, it was Rodri.”
Mbappe further elaborated on the fluidity of Ballon d’Or predictions, adding, “If I had suggested Rodri as the winner three months prior to the ceremony, you likely would have questioned my judgment.”
Rodri celebrated his Ballon d’Or trophy win at the Etihad. Image: Getty
Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or Boycott: “Pathetic” or Justified?
As previously mentioned, Real Madrid’s decision to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October due to Vinicius Junior’s perceived snub ignited a firestorm of reactions, notably from former France national team manager Raymond Domenech.
Domenech didn’t mince words when expressing his disapproval of Real Madrid’s actions. “What Real Madrid did is utterly pathetic,” he stated in an interview with goal.pl. He continued, “They demonstrated a profound lack of respect towards the sport of football, the other participants at the gala, and indeed, the winners themselves. It was a truly repulsive display.”
Domenech criticized Real Madrid’s alleged demand for inside information, emphasizing: “How could they possibly demand advance knowledge of the winner when the results were explicitly kept secret and confidential before the event?”
He interpreted Real Madrid’s actions as a form of pressure: “Were they attempting to coerce the organizers into guaranteeing Vinicius’s victory, implying they would boycott the event otherwise? Such behavior is unbelievable, especially considering there were no allegations of bias or unfairness in the voting process.”
Domenech further underscored Real Madrid’s own accolades at the ceremony: “Real Madrid was rightfully recognized as the best men’s team globally that year, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane shared the top scorer award, Carlo Ancelotti was celebrated as best coach… Yet, it seemingly wasn’t enough for them; they apparently desired absolute assurance of a Vinicius victory,” Domenech passionately added.
In scathing conclusion, Domenech labeled their behavior “horrible, repeatedly horrible, from a club that prides itself on its greatness.” He recounted a sentiment that succinctly captured the essence of the controversy: “Someone aptly summarized their conduct, quipping, ‘Real Madrid seemingly refuses to commence a match unless they are pre-informed of the final score.'”
What are your thoughts? Did Rodri deserve the 2024 Ballon d’Or, or was Vinicius Junior more deserving? Share your opinion in the comments below!