Rodri Wins Ballon d'Or, Guardiola Responds

Pep Guardiola expressed pride in Manchester City's Rodri winning the Ballon d'Or, a significant recognition after his contributions to both City and Spain. Despite Rodri's victory, Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony, arguing that the award criteria did not respect their players, particularly Vinicius Jr, who was a finalist. Guardiola declined to criticize Real's decision, stating it was up to them to choose whether to attend or not and emphasized the importance of the voting process that led to Rodri's win. He acknowledged that both Vinicius and his own player Erling Haaland deserved recognition, but highlighted that individual awards are less significant than team achievements. Guardiola's comments reflect a focus on collective success over personal accolades, even as he celebrated Rodri's historic achievement for the club. The broader reaction included mixed sentiments, as some of Vinicius Jr's teammates voiced their discontent with the outcome.