In a surprising turn of events, it was officially announced on Monday evening that Rodri has won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, beating out Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal. This announcement comes after much speculation about Vinicius being the favorite.
Despite the excitement, Toni Kroos, the former Real Madrid midfielder, publicly criticized individual awards, stating that they are exaggerated and not significant in a team sport like football, where success relies on the entire team. However, he expressed his support for Vinicius Jr, declaring that if he had to vote, it would definitely be for his former teammate.
Kroos shared two photos on Instagram to show his backing for Vinicius, including one from their celebration during the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, captioned “The Best.” Vinicius quickly responded with affection, saying, “I love you, Antonio!!” along with a white heart, symbolizing Real Madrid.
Vinicius Jr, who was absent from the Ballon d’Or ceremony, subtly echoed Kroos’s sentiments, suggesting that he believed he deserved the award over Rodri, especially considering Rodri’s less impressive performance during Euro 2024.