Rodri Hernandez (Madrid, 1996) is winner of a Golden Ball it will resonate loudly for many years to come. Firstly because he is the second Spanish footballer to achieve it, after the first who won Luis Suarez in 1960 and spent too much time being the only one. But above all because of what happened throughout the day and which clearly leaves a loser: Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian, second in the voting although he seemed to be the obvious winner, held his ground and did not attend the gala. From the the real Madridinside Châtelet Theater of Paristhere was no representation.
Why does Rodri win the Ballon d’Or? The Spanish midfielder, who suffered a serious cruciate tear in September, is mainly rewarded for winning the country’s fourth European Championship. He was the leader of the team Luis de la Fuente. Also because he added to his file with Guardiola A Premier League moreover, the Club World Cup and the European Super Cup. Individually, yes, we can say that he looked less handsome than the previous year, in which he also won the Champions League.
Rodri deserves it, but the debate that will forever overshadow this award is whether he is more or less than Vinicius. Or what Danny Carvajalwhich was vital in the two competitions that should have had the most weight in this Ballon d’Or, winning both: the Champions League and the European Cup. The full-back doesn’t even get on the podium, another Madrid player being third, Bellingham. The figure of the City player stood out in the majority among the 100 journalists from the top 100 countries in the world. ranking FIFA who participated in the vote.
Rodrigo Hernández and Pep Guardiola at the Champions League celebration
Spanish Football Festival
Rodri joins a very select club of Spaniards who have won the Ballon d’Or. Barça’s Galician legend, who died in 2023, Luis Suárez, was the first to achieve this, and several historic names have remained along the way. Those who were closest were Raoulsecond after Michael Owen in the 2001 edition, and Andres Iniesta Iniesta And Xavier Hernándezwho in 2010 completed the podium with his Can Barça teammate, Lion Messi. Iker Boxes either Sérgio Ramos There are others who once dreamed of the golden prize and never managed to obtain it.
Spanish football’s drought ended with the two Ballon d’Ors of Alexia Putelles2021 and 2022, and the double also followed by Aitana Bonmatiafter conquering 2023 and now this year. They are the great dominators of an award which, in its female version, has only been awarded since 2018. Rodri becomes the second Spanish footballer – the fourth in total – to reach the top of world football at an individual level.
This Monday’s gala in Paris has become the celebration of Spanish football. The two Ballons d’Or were joined by the prize for Lamine YamalKopa Trophy for the best young footballer. Even Jenny Beautiful raised the Socrates Prize for him #It’s over with her teammates.
The Ballon d’Or he awards France Football since 1956, this year is co-organized for the first time by UEFA and the Amaury Group —the French private media network which also includes the prestigious magazine.
Vinicius looked like a winner
It was the most uncontrolled Ballon d’Or day in living memory in years. It has been a long time since the organization last reserved the name of the winner. It was a secret that only the magazine’s top brass knew. Behind closed doors, yes, everyone already expected Vinicius to win. The Brazilian had done almost everything. The Champions League final against Borussia Dortmundin which he scored as in 2022, put the icing on the cake of his season. He scored 28 goals and provided 13 assists between the three competitions Madrid won, including the Spanish Super Cup and the League.
Vinicius Jr. and Rodri Hernández, during a Real Madrid – Manchester City
Europe Press
Vinicius, his entourage and even Real Madrid took him for granted. “It’s going to be a big week,” those close to him said a few days ago. There has still been no official communication France Footballbut it was popular voice. 50 people were going to travel from Madrid to Paris, including Florentin Pérez, Bellingham And Ancelottiwho took the best coach award and despite this, he did not attend due to what the club considers to be a lack of respect. At the beginning of the afternoon, with the first messages excluding the attribution of Vinicius, everything was abruptly canceled.
Anger is soaring at Real Madrid, who also won the award for best team of the season. He is ready to break with everything related to his relationship with a prize who, in the past, had a glorious symbiosis with the club. In the rupture the shadow of UEFA of Alexander Ceferinco-organizer of the Ballon d’Or gala for the first time. In Valdebébas We don’t believe much in coincidences and what happened with Vinicius – and Carvajal -, given the emergence of the entity that opposes the club for the creation of the Super Leaguethis may not be the case.
Anyway, we don’t talk as much about Rodri’s Ballon d’Or as about the controversy affecting Vinicius. Once again, the award is clouded by the voting criteria, like last year when Messi won it, already in Miamiin front Haaland and the Spanish midfielder. The eternal discussion about rewards that fewer and fewer people believe in.
