Vinicius Junior Loses Ballon d'Or to Rodri

Vinicius Junior expressed his disappointment after finishing second to Manchester City's Rodri in the Ballon d'Or voting, emphasizing his determination to win the prestigious award in the future, stating he would campaign 'ten times' if necessary. Despite being a favorite to win, reports emerged shortly before the ceremony that Rodri had claimed the top prize, leading Real Madrid to boycott the event entirely, which sparked criticism on social media. The club, despite winning accolades such as best men's team and best coach, had no representatives present to collect awards. Vinicius's teammate Eduardo Camavinga criticized the outcome as influenced by 'football politics', while Vinicius received support from fans and former teammates. The ceremony, held in Paris, also saw Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati win the women's award, further highlighting the night’s significant achievements beyond Real Madrid’s absence. The event underscored a growing narrative regarding perceived injustices in awards distribution within football.