The football world has been buzzing with controversy since Manchester City’s Rodri clinched the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, narrowly edging out Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior. Now, France Football, the magazine behind the accolade, has added fuel to the fire by revealing just how close the race truly was.
A Margin of Mere Points
In a report published by L’Equipe ahead of France Football’s upcoming print edition, the voting details have been laid bare. With each of the 99 judges for the men’s award listing their top 10 players, a total of 6,633 points were up for grabs. Astonishingly, Rodri secured the golden trophy with a razor-thin lead of only 41 points over the Brazilian winger.
The scoring system awards 15 points for a first-place vote, 12 for second, and so on, down to a single point for the 10th spot. This means that just a handful of higher placements could have swung the result in Vinícius’s favor.
Real Madrid’s Boycott
The revelation has only intensified the sense of injustice felt by Vinícius and his Real Madrid teammates. Upon learning the outcome in advance, the Spanish giants made the unprecedented decision to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony entirely, with players, coaches, and executives alike refusing to attend what they deemed a “miscarriage of sporting justice.”
We cannot endorse or celebrate an award that disregards the incredible achievements of our player and our club.
A Real Madrid spokesperson
Surprising Voting Trends
France Football’s data also unveiled some eye-opening voting patterns. Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman joined superstars like Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland in receiving a coveted first-place vote. Meanwhile, several of Vinícius’s Champions League-winning teammates, including Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, and Toni Kroos, earned multiple top spots from the judges.
Remarkably, five voters left Rodri out of their top 10 entirely, while only three omitted Vinícius. This suggests that the Brazilian’s stellar performances resonated more consistently across the board.
Fueling the Debate
As fans and pundits alike digest these revelations, the controversy shows no signs of abating. Many argue that Vinícius’s instrumental role in Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League double should have been the decisive factor. His dazzling skill, clutch goals, and overall impact on the grandest stages had seemed to make him the clear frontrunner.
Others point to Rodri’s quiet consistency and midfield mastery as the foundation of Manchester City’s success. While perhaps less flashy than his Brazilian rival, the Spaniard’s influence on City’s play and their Premier League triumph cannot be understated.
Both players had incredible seasons worthy of recognition. In the end, it came down to the finest of margins and personal preference.
A football analyst who requested anonymity
A Catalyst for Change?
Beyond the individual players involved, this controversy has reignited the long-standing debate over the Ballon d’Or’s voting process and criteria. Some call for greater transparency, while others question whether the current system can truly capture the nuances and context of a player’s impact.
As the football community grapples with these questions, one thing is certain: the 2024 Ballon d’Or will be forever remembered as a flashpoint in the award’s history. The slim margin of victory, the high-profile boycott, and the swirling debates have ensured that this edition will be dissected and discussed for years to come.
Whether this controversy will spur meaningful change in the Ballon d’Or remains to be seen. But for now, it has undeniably added an extra layer of intrigue and passion to an already-heated race for football’s most coveted individual prize.
As the dust settles on this year’s ceremony, all eyes will be on France Football to see how they navigate the fallout and whether they can restore the award’s prestige in the face of such division. One thing is clear: the Ballon d’Or has once again proven its unparalleled ability to captivate, frustrate, and inspire the football world in equal measure.
