Ballon d’Or: Rodri Sparks Controversy with His Ranking of Carvajal and Vinicius Jr.

Spanish midfielder Rodri, who was recently awarded the Ballon d’Or, caused a stir after revealing his personal ranking for the prestigious honor. In an interview on November 11, 2024, he stated that he would place himself in first place, followed by his Real Madrid teammate Dani Carvajal in second, and Vinicius Jr. in third. His comments quickly sparked debate, especially given Vinicius’s exclusion from the second spot.

Rodri defended his choices by highlighting his consistency throughout the season. “I won because of my consistency, which is the hardest aspect of football,” he explained. While he acknowledged Vinicius’s impressive performances, especially during Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph, he argued that Carvajal deserved the second spot for his contributions to the team.

Currently sidelined due to a ligament injury since September, Rodri also mentioned that although he didn’t have as many standout moments this season as in the previous one, his overall consistency made him a deserving Ballon d’Or winner. “Maybe I didn’t have as many peaks this season, but in terms of consistency, I believe it’s well deserved,” he said.

His remarks have sparked a lively debate among fans and analysts, with many feeling that Vinicius Jr. should have been ranked higher.