Rodri Wins 2024 Ballon d'Or in Tight Race

The 2024 Ballon d'Or saw Manchester City's Rodri narrowly win over Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr by 41 points, a margin deemed controversial by some, including Real Madrid, who boycotted the ceremony in Paris. Rodri's win was attributed to his pivotal performances in helping Manchester City clinch another Premier League title and playing a key role in Spain's Euro 2024 victory, making him the first Premier League player to win the award since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Vinicius Jr, who was overlooked by three judges, had an impressive season with 24 goals and 11 assists, contributing significantly to Real Madrid's successes. Despite the close competition, Rodri's 1170 points surpassed Vinicius's 1129. Real Madrid's disappointment was evident, with the club publicly expressing their discontent over the perceived lack of respect from the awarding bodies. Observers noted that the difference might have swung in Vinicius's favor with just a few more first-place votes.