• The 2024 Ballon d’Or is set to join a list of other controversial decisions from previous years after Rodri won it
• The Manchester City midfielder beat Vinicius Junior, who until Monday afternoon was considered the winner of the award.
• TUKO.co.ke looks at the specific criteria voters considered and why many of them chose Rodri as the best player of the year

There was a meltdown of insane proportions online on Monday afternoon after it emerged that Vinicius Junior, after months of speculation, was not going to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

Real Madrid have withdrawn their large delegation and lofty plans to cover the Parisian ceremony, sending a clear sign that the Ballon d’Or will not return to the Bernabeu.

Did Rodri deserve the Ballon d’Or?

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And true to the signs, Rodri, injured and moved, was announced winner of the prize in front of distinguished guests at the Théâtre du Châtelet.

Following Vinicius Junior’s snub, some fans called the award a “farce” and “theft”, among other things.

How are the winners of the Ballon d’Or chosen?

The decision reignited the conversation about what exactly voters are looking at. 100 journalists from the 100 highest ranked nations by FIFA select their top 10 winners from a list of 30 nominees. As explained on The UEFA websitethe ten selected players receive 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point respectively. Points are then collected and the player with the most points wins the prize.

How the winners of the Ballon d’Or are chosen

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Since this is a vote, the process is as subjective as possible. A journalist from a given country can easily ignore the favorites and vote for their compatriot. But let’s say it was an objective process; what criteria should they use? TUKO.co.ke breaks it down and compares it to Rodri’s season.

1. Individual performance the previous season

Given that it is a seasonal award, Rodri’s 2023/2024 season has been compared to that of his rivals. The last time Rodri lost in the Premier League was in February 2023. Pep Guardiola’s side struggled without him every time he was away.

He propelled the champions to their historic fourth crown. Then he traveled to Germany and repeated the same performance with Spain, winning the title and The most valuable player of the Euro.

The 28-year-old also contributed with 12 goals and 15 assists, which is impressive for a defensive midfielder.

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On the other hand, Vinicius Junior was the star of Real Madrid’s journey in the Champions League. He also won La Liga, but his teammate Jude Bellingham was awarded the league MVP. His difficulties with Brazil in the Copa America did him no favors.

In the end, a majority of voters apparently decided that Rodri had done enough for club and country than the former Flamengo star.

2. Team success in the previous season

Rodri’s performances have helped his teams win the Super Cup, Premier League and Euro 2024, while Vinicius Junior has won the Champions League, La Liga and Supercopa Espana.

Real Madrid’s argument was that if Vinicius Junior did not meet the criteria desired by voters, then the winner should have been Dani Carvajal, who won both the Champions League and the Euros.

3. Class and fair play

Vinicius Junior’s troubles with opponents and supporters during his time in Spain are well documented. The Brazilian has forcefully denounced racist behavior, which has often put him at odds with many people.

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Rodri vs Vinícius: who really deserves Ballon d’Or 2024 glory?

Although Vinicius’ behavior on the pitch has not been aesthetically pleasing, it is equally fair to note that Rodri was dismissed last season for violent conduct after grabbing Morgan Gibbs-White by the throat.

Be the judge. Was Rodri the deserved winner?

How much Rodri will earn after winning the Ballon d’Or

At the same time, TUKO.co.ke reported on how much Rodri will receive after winning the Ballon d’Or.

It is perhaps the most lucrative individual award in the world. soccerbut the winner receives no monetary gain.

Source: TUKO.co.ke