'FOOTBALL POLITICS': How the 2024 Ballon d'Or split the game amid battle between Manchester City's Rodri and Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior
Published 22/09/2025 at 09:53 GMT+1
Whose side did you fall on? It was the slow-burning drama of 2024, as Real Madrid and Manchester City once again came up against each other - but not, this time, in a 'Champions League derby'; instead, an individual tete-a-tete between Rodri and Vinicius Junior for the men's Ballon d'Or crown. We revisit a saga that poured fuel onto the fire of the two clubs' rivalry.
'It was unfair' - Ronaldo says Vinicius Jr 'deserved' to win Ballon d'Or over Rodri
Video credit: TNT Sports
It was the post that confirmed the rumours.
"BREAKING: Vinicius Jr will NOT travel to Paris as Real Madrid know he will NOT win the Ballon d’Or.
"No one from Real Madrid will attend the ceremony. No Florentino Perez, no Vini Jr, no Carlo Ancelotti, no Jude Bellingham."
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano turned awards ceremony sleuth as he shared news of Real Madrid's sensational decision to boycott the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony.
The biggest individual honour men's football has to offer had reportedly been given to City's Rodri, after a season that saw him win the Premier League and FA Cup with Manchester City, and anchor Spain to the Euro 2024 title.
Vinicius, meanwhile, had won a quadruple with Real Madrid, including scoring in the UEFA Champions League final.
All this came amid a backdrop of the two sides meeting in the UEFA Champions League for three seasons running - with a fourth on the way just months after the ceremony - as a new 'European derby' was formed.
But was Madrid's boycott sour grapes or justified frustration? Poor form or refreshing honesty? And who was on whose side?
Faultlines were quickly exposed in this ideological battle, with loyalties being revealed across countries, clubs and historical rivalries.
With the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony nearly upon us, we look back on how the great and the good of the game reacted to last year's drama.
On Rodri's side
Pep Guardiola
Naturally, there was a strong City contingent backing Rodri, but there was likely more at play in the hinterland.
Pep Guardiola might be the City boss, but as a proud Catalan, he was also no doubt content to have got one over his old Clasico rivals.
"It’s incredible news for him and of course for all of us, all at City and our fans. We’re so proud of him. It’s the first time," Guardiola said.
"We could never have imagined years ago that our player would receive this prestigious award."
Sergio Aguero
City legend Sergio Aguero also had good reason to stick the boot into Real Madrid, having played for Atletico Madrid and Barcelona during his career, and being best friends with Blaugrana legend Lionel Messi.
"Rodri is the best player in the world. Well deserved," the Argentinian said. "Football is for everyone, not just Real Madrid – they are so entitled."
Ouch.
Ilkay Gundogan
Fellow City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan revelled in Rodri shaking off an unwanted tag.
He said: "From today on he is finally not ‘underrated’ anymore. Congratulations to my teammate Rodri on winning the Ballon d’Or!"
On Vini's side
Cristiano Ronaldo
As perhaps expected, Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo - with his Portuguese identity perhaps also a factor in an aversion to his Iberian neighbour - came out on the side of his ex-club team-mate.
"In my opinion, he [Vinicius] deserved to win the golden ball," Ronaldo said. "It was unfair in my opinion. I say here in front of everybody.
"They give it to Rodri, he deserved it too, but they should have given it to Vinicius because he won the Champions League and scored in the final."
The Real Madrid team
"FOOTBALL POLITICS," declared Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga in his social media post, before anointing Vinicius as the "best player in the world" despite the snub.
Real Madrid hierarchy
Los Blancos released a fiery statement amid the furore.
"If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to [Dani] Carvajal as the winner," it read.
"As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d'Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected."
How did Vini and Rodri react?
Vini posted on X shortly after the ceremony, writing: "I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready."
Rodri, in his interview with Ballon d'Or organisers France Football, said: "Knowing how to win but also knowing how to lose is important."
Then early in 2025, he was asked about Ronaldo's comments, and shot back: "[They were] a surprise, really, because he knows better than anyone how this award works and, above all, how the winner is chosen.
"This year the journalists who vote have considered that I should win it. Probably, these same journalists were the ones who at some point voted for him to win, and I imagine that then he would agree."
A feeling that simmers
As if pre-ordained, Man City and Madrid met in the Champions League knockouts in the February after the ceremony.
In the first leg, City's fans decided to unfurl an Oasis-themed banner prior to kick-off, reading: "Stop crying your heart out," with a picture of Rodri kissing the Ballon d'Or.
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Man City fans unfurl a banner supporting Rodri, 11 February 2025.
Image credit: Getty Images
Madrid triumphed in the tie overall after a sparkling Kylian Mbappe hat-trick in the Bernabeu return leg.
Vinicius responded cryptically online after that game, posting "Okay okay okay!!!!!!" and a crying emoji, while admitting the banner had motivated him to perform.
'I do not want to see a defender win the Ballon d'Or'
Analysis of the decision was pored over by many, but did it come down to the lesser-known criteria for the award?
Per UEFA, the Ballon d'Or is awarded based on three main criteria:
- 1) Individual performances, decisive and impressive character
- 2) Team performances and achievements
- 3) Class and fair play
TNT Sports' Joleon Lescott exposed the inconsistent thinking, by saying: "I feel [Rodri] was the most consistent performer over the year and played to his maximum more than Vinicius Junior, more than Jude Bellingham.
"I know for Manchester City, Phil Foden won player of the year, but for consistency, I think there was no one better.
"It's like some players are being picked on individual form and others are being picked on what their club did."
Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, said he preferred exciting players taking the gong ahead of defenders.
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Ferdinand reacts to 'phenomenal' Rodri winning Ballon d'Or over 'maverick' Vinicius
Video credit: TNT Sports
With Rodri and Vini's roll of honour proving hard to split, and the first and third categories somewhat subjective, was this where the vote was won and lost?
And with Carvajal winning the Champions League and the Euros, why did he finish so far back in fourth?
We will likely never know the full ins and outs, but with voting sure to be very close again this season, there could yet be more intense conjecture over the 2025 men's winner.
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