November 9th 2024.
Rodri, the star player for both Manchester City and the Spanish national team, recently had the honor of receiving the top prize in football. However, there was some controversy surrounding the event as Vinicius Jr, a player for Real Madrid, had turned down his invitation to the Ballon d'Or ceremony last month. Rodri expressed his disappointment with Vinicius Jr's decision, stating that he "would not have acted the same way" if he were in Vinicius Jr's position.
Vinicius Jr had been considered a strong favorite to win the prestigious award after his stellar performance in Real Madrid's victories in the Champions League, La Liga, and the Spanish Super Cup last season. However, a leak prior to the ceremony revealed that Rodri, at the age of 28, would be the recipient of the award after an outstanding year with Manchester City and the Spanish national team, where he won both the Premier League and Euro 2024.
This caused Madrid's delegation, which was set to include Vinicius Jr, to cancel their trip to Paris in protest. As a result, no one from Real Madrid was present at the ceremony to collect their Men's Club of the Year award. Vinicius Jr was said to be devastated by his second-place finish and even tweeted, "I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready," as a message to the Ballon d'Or organizers. Reports from Spain also revealed that Vinicius Jr had planned a large celebration in Madrid to commemorate his expected win, but had to cancel it when it became apparent that Rodri would be the victor.
When asked about Vinicius Jr's decision to not attend the event, Rodri responded by saying, "What do you want me to tell you? That I would have preferred everyone to be there? Of course, I would have. The second, third, fourth, etcetera were all missing... I have to respect everyone's decision, even if I would not have acted the same way." It was clear that Rodri had hoped to see all the nominees at the ceremony, as he himself had attended the event to support his fellow players, such as Erling Haaland who was a strong contender for the award last year.
Rodri also mentioned how important it is to know how to win and lose gracefully. He explained that attending the event was a breath of fresh air for him, especially after his injury and rehabilitation. He wanted to enjoy the evening and support his fellow players. Rodri's humility and sportsmanship were evident in his words and actions.
Meanwhile, Gary Neville, a former Manchester United and England player, criticized Vinicius Jr's behavior, calling him a "sore loser." Neville expressed his disappointment with the Real Madrid players and their entitled attitude, stating that it would have been classy for Vinicius Jr to still attend the ceremony and invite Rodri to his celebration afterwards. He believed that this would have shown true sportsmanship and respect for his fellow player.
In the end, Rodri lifted his fourth Premier League trophy in May, and was also named the Player of the Tournament when he won Euro 2024 with the Spanish national team. Vinicius Jr may have missed out on the Ballon d'Or this year, but with his talent and potential, he is sure to win it in the future. Let us all remember to show grace and respect, whether we win or lose.
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