Another award and with comes more controversy. The decision to award the Ballon d’Or to Rodri the Spanish and Manchester City midfielder over the favourite Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid has created a controversy. Upset with this decision Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony. This decision has created a buzz among football fans who are busy debating the merits of this decision. In Goa football fans of various ages and from different occupations were more than keen to give their opinion on the decision.
Rosh, a football fan from Agassaim was of the opinion that Rodri’s Ballon d'Or is a nod to consistency but felt that Vinícius Jr. delivered a spark and energy that electrified fans worldwide. His passion, skill, and impact truly deserved the highest honor, and Real Madrid’s boycott speaks to how deeply his brilliance is valued within the club. For Flavio Fernandes a student from Saligao said the win was a testament to Rodri’s impressive performance in the 2023/24 season in which he helped City win a record fourth successive English Premier league title and Spain’s triumph in the UEFA EURO 2024. Real Madrid boycotted the show and felt this showed that they were not respected. They even went to the extent of saying that if Vinicius was not going to win then teammate Caravajal should be the winner. Despite all this he said he won was remarkable and he was the first Spanish player to win the award. Anthony KV Radharaj the owner of a car rental business said he was surprised by Rodri’s win and it looked like a snub to the player many considered the favourite but it also highlighted the importance of Rodri in the City success this season.
The win highlighted the importance of the unsung hero. Prashant Purshottam, a businessman, said Rodri winning the award was a bold choice that would shake things up. He says, “ While Vinicius Jr. had the hype, Rodri's consistency and impact on the pitch truly deserve recognition. It’s a reminder that greatness often lies in the unsung heroes”.
Ian Gupta, a student, felt Rodri’s exceptional vision and tactical intelligence make him the linchpin of his team's midfield, consistently dictating the pace of the game and providing defensive stability, which is essential for any successful squad.
However there were those who supported Vinicus Jr claims. Sudhir Patil an entrepreneur believed that Vinicus jr consistently delivers game-changing moments and electrifying performances that elevate his team, making it hard to ignore how he has been overlooked for individual accolades like the Ballon d'Or. It was an oversight, Raahil Khan felt that fails to recognize his impact on the pitch.
Another fan, Aftab Khan a businessman says, “ It's infuriating that Vinicius, who has been the heartbeat of his team and consistently dazzles with his creativity and flair, gets overlooked for the Ballon d'Or while Rodri, despite his solid contributions, benefits from playing in a star-studded squad. It feels like a massive injustice!.”
Then there are the neutrals like Johnny Carvalho, Audio Engineer from Nagoa who is a Barcelona fan. Keeping rivalry aside, both of them were equally deserving of the award. He smiled and said, “ Funny how the wind turned so fast and from Vinicius being the clear winner to Madrid boycotting the ceremony altogether. Madrid boycotting the gala was a clear sign of self victimization. The question is how did they come to know before the winner was declared at the event. Overall Rodri has been vital for his Country in the summer during the Euros, not ignoring his performances For Manchester City. Where he won 4 Trophies and 2 Runners up medals. Also including the 74 matches Unbeaten Run. While Vinicius was below par for Brazil which might have cost him the Ballon D'or”.
Then there is the cynical observer. Adv Celbert Dias was of the opinion that he did not expect Rodri to win but now he said everything was unpredictable including football and every other sport . He says, “ I do know a lot of football fans who think it's controversial to award him the Ballon D'Or, but the FIFA adjudicators and officials who matter think otherwise, and there's nothing that can be done about it”.
Omi, a musician, was blunt when he said, “ In my opinion the Ballon d'or lost its credibility after Cristiano wasn't awarded one in 2018, and this was further confirmed when Messi won it in 2023.
So I wouldn't say that Rodri didn't deserve it or Vini did. It's basically a sham now”.
Perhaps an attempt was made to understand the system followed in the selection of the winner. Vrundawan Raikar a media manager with ESG observed that the the ballon d'or is awarded on criteria based on France football, recognising the player with the best individual and team performance, exceptional skill and strong influence and sportsmanship on and off the field over the past. He says, “ The award symbolizes greatness beyond numbers and statistics. While Vinicius Junior has impressive stats and trophies, his conduct and sportsmanship has different matters. His behaviour of provoking rival fans with disrespectful action often leads to playing the victim card. To seriously contend for an award like the Ballon d'Or Vinicius must work on his character”.
It is obvious the serious fan will never stop discussing these decisions. But such is life and football.