The Ballon d'Or goes to a Real Madrid man
Rodri of Manchester City won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, but Real Madrid celebrated it as their own thanks to Vinícius and Carvajal. Find out why the Spanish club claims it.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The 2024 Ballon d'Or went to Rodri, Manchester City midfielder, but Real Madrid celebrated it as a triumph of their own because Vinícius Júnior and Dani Carvajal made the podium. The post celebrating it as «a Real Madrid man» mixes club pride with the reality of the winner.
## Rodri wins the 2024 Ballon d'Or
The 2024 Ballon d'Or, awarded on 28 October in Paris, went to **Rodri**, midfielder for **Manchester City** and the Spanish national team. The 28-year-old Madrid-born player beat **Vinícius Júnior** and ** Bellingham**, both of Real Madrid, in the voting. Rodri came into it fresh from winning the Premier League with City and the European Championship with Spain, where he was named player of the tournament.
The post celebrating that the award «goes to a Real Madrid man» plays on the ambiguity: Rodri is not a Real Madrid player, but the Spanish club dominated the podium with Vinícius and Bellingham. Real Madrid also won the 2023-2024 Champions League and El futbol español, achievements that explain why their squad dominated the voting.
## Real Madrid and their reaction to the award
Real Madrid decided not to attend the Paris gala upon learning that Vinícius would not be the winner. The club felt the Brazilian deserved the prize after his season and his role in the Champions League. That absence caused a media stir and fuelled the debate over the Ballon d'Or criteria.
The post celebrating the award as «a Real Madrid man» can be read as Madridista pride: although Rodri does not wear the white shirt, Real Madrid swept the top spots. **Vinícius** finished second and **Bellingham** third, which reinforces that reading. The Spanish club did not win the Ballon d'Or, but came close with two players.
## What the Ballon d'Or means for Spanish football
Rodri is the second Spaniard to win the Ballon d'Or after **Luis Suárez** in 1960. The award recognises his role as a defensive midfielder, a position traditionally less valued in individual awards. His victory breaks the dominance of forwards and wingers in the recent roll of honour.
The post celebrating it as «a Real Madrid man» reflects the confusion between the player's club and the club that dominates the podium. Rodri belongs to Manchester City, but his development and career began at Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal. Real Madrid, for its part, remains the club with the most presence in the voting, even if the winner is not theirs.
## Rodri wins the 2024 Ballon d'Or
The 2024 Ballon d'Or, awarded on 28 October in Paris, went to **Rodri**, midfielder for **Manchester City** and the Spanish national team. The 28-year-old Madrid-born player beat **Vinícius Júnior** and ** Bellingham**, both of Real Madrid, in the voting. Rodri came into it fresh from winning the Premier League with City and the European Championship with Spain, where he was named player of the tournament.
The post celebrating that the award «goes to a Real Madrid man» plays on the ambiguity: Rodri is not a Real Madrid player, but the Spanish club dominated the podium with Vinícius and Bellingham. Real Madrid also won the 2023-2024 Champions League and El futbol español, achievements that explain why their squad dominated the voting.
## Real Madrid and their reaction to the award
Real Madrid decided not to attend the Paris gala upon learning that Vinícius would not be the winner. The club felt the Brazilian deserved the prize after his season and his role in the Champions League. That absence caused a media stir and fuelled the debate over the Ballon d'Or criteria.
The post celebrating the award as «a Real Madrid man» can be read as Madridista pride: although Rodri does not wear the white shirt, Real Madrid swept the top spots. **Vinícius** finished second and **Bellingham** third, which reinforces that reading. The Spanish club did not win the Ballon d'Or, but came close with two players.
## What the Ballon d'Or means for Spanish football
Rodri is the second Spaniard to win the Ballon d'Or after **Luis Suárez** in 1960. The award recognises his role as a defensive midfielder, a position traditionally less valued in individual awards. His victory breaks the dominance of forwards and wingers in the recent roll of honour.
The post celebrating it as «a Real Madrid man» reflects the confusion between the player's club and the club that dominates the podium. Rodri belongs to Manchester City, but his development and career began at Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal. Real Madrid, for its part, remains the club with the most presence in the voting, even if the winner is not theirs.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (0 replies).
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