Manchester City midfielder Rodri has addressed Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments regarding the fairness of his 2023 Ballon d’Or win over Vinicius Junior. Ronaldo, who spoke at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, expressed his belief that Vinicius deserved the prestigious award more than Rodri. The former Real Madrid forward argued that Vinicius’ contributions to Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League triumph, including scoring in the final, should have earned him the Ballon d’Or. In response, Rodri described Ronaldo’s remarks as a “surprise,” asserting that the decision was ultimately made by the journalists who voted for him, just as they had supported Ronaldo in the past.
Rodri Defends His Ballon d’Or Victory Amid Criticism
Rodri’s victory in the 2023 Ballon d’Or came after an exceptional season, where he played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s treble-winning campaign. The Spaniard appeared 50 times for City across all competitions, scoring nine goals, and was instrumental in their Premier League title win. In contrast, Vinicius Junior, despite his key role in securing the Champions League for Real Madrid, did not attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in protest of what he perceived as an unfair decision.
Speaking in an interview with Spanish outlet AS, Rodri emphasized his surprise at Ronaldo’s comments. He noted that Ronaldo, with his wealth of experience and understanding of the award process, should know that the Ballon d’Or is decided by journalists who vote based on performances over the course of the year. The Manchester City midfielder remarked, “This year, the journalists who voted have decided that I should win it. Probably, these same journalists were the ones who at some point voted for him to win it, and I imagine that then he would have agreed.”
Rodri also reflected on his current injury, having sustained a cruciate ligament injury during City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal in September. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since then, but he remains hopeful of returning before the end of the season to help Manchester City regain form after a disappointing stretch of results. Rodri expressed the importance of team unity during difficult times, particularly with key players like Kevin De Bruyne also missing through injury. Despite Manchester City’s recent struggles, including a tough run of one win in nine league games, Rodri remained optimistic. He emphasized that while the team was going through a challenging period, improvements could still be made, and the situation was part of the natural ebb and flow of football seasons.
“Football changes. You go through phases throughout the year. The seasons are longer now, and maturity and calm are important. We are in a situation, I would say, that is a bit of a limit. You have to try to win, but without panic,” he said. Rodri’s return will be crucial for Manchester City as they aim to regain their rhythm and mount a challenge for silverware across multiple competitions.
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