Manchester City star Rodri celebrated his historic Ballon d’Or win in Paris with a heartfelt tribute to his Spain teammate Dani Carvajal.
Despite a notable absence from Real Madrid’s delegation, led by club president Florentino Perez, Rodri, 28, took the stage, acknowledging Carvajal and emphasizing the significance of Spanish football’s success.
Rodri’s remarkable year included lifting the European Championship with Spain and clinching his fourth consecutive Premier League title with Manchester City.
Arriving on crutches after a severe knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the season, he began his acceptance speech by saying, “I have so many people to thank.” He expressed gratitude for his girlfriend Laura, his family, and his City teammates, adding, “I know I wouldn’t be here without you.”
Rodri continued by recognizing the Spanish national team and head coach Luis de la Fuente, who placed immense trust in him.
He made a special mention of Carvajal, who had spearheaded Real Madrid’s victories in both the Champions League and La Liga, saying, “Carvajal, he should’ve been here with me.” Unfortunately, Carvajal, also recovering from a knee injury, remained in Madrid.
While Rodri celebrated his victory, the moment was overshadowed by Real Madrid’s decision to skip the event.
The Madrid-based press and the club had mounted a considerable campaign supporting Vinicius Jr. for the award, even refusing to entertain questions about Jude Bellingham as a contender.
However, upon learning that Vinicius had been passed over, Perez and Madrid’s representatives opted to boycott the Paris event, with a statement later declaring, “If the award criteria doesn’t recognize Vinicius, then they should honor Carvajal.
Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid, and Real Madrid will not go where it is not respected.”
Rodri’s achievement marked the first time a Spaniard had claimed the award in 64 years. However, Madrid players took to social media to denounce the decision, accusing “football politics” of swaying the outcome. Vinicius Jr. himself posted defiantly, “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
Leave a Reply