- Daniel Regha critiques Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win, questioning his eligibility for the prestigious award.
- He expresses disbelief at Rodri’s victory, noting that he was not nominated for Premier League Player of the Season.
- Regha argues that Rodri was not the standout player for Manchester City last season.
- He claims Rodri did not rank as the top midfielder in Spain, raising further doubts about his accolade.
- The critique likens the Ballon d’Or to the Grammy Awards, highlighting instances of unexpected winners.
Newsypeople – The Spanish midfielder bagged the prestigious award on October 28, 2024, after helping Manchester City secure their fourth consecutive Premier League title and guiding Spain to Euro 2024 glory.
Many were left scratching their heads at the decision, considering Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid was widely tipped to take home the prize after dominating both La Liga and the Champions League.
Just before the ceremony in Paris, Real Madrid announced they’d be giving the event a miss, citing disrespect towards their star player Vinicius.
Taking to social media platform X, Daniel shared his thoughts on Rodri’s big win, questioning whether the midfielder truly deserved the accolade.
“Rodri wasn’t even nominated for Premier League Player of the Season (2023/24), he wasn’t the best player at Man City last campaign, and he wasn’t named Spain’s top midfielder either,” Daniel pointed out. “But he’s the Ballon d’Or winner? Does Rodri really merit this?”
Daniel went on to compare the Ballon d’Or to the Grammy Awards, suggesting they share a similar vibe.
“The Ballon d’Or 🏆 feels just like the Grammys – full of surprises and controversy!”
Rodri wasn't nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season (2023/24), he was n@t the best player in Man City last season, & also was n@t the best midfielder in Spain; But he's the winner of the Ballon d'Or? He, Rodri, d!dn't merit this.
— Daniel Regha (@DanielRegha) October 28, 2024
Some fans weighed in on the debate, with opinions divided:
@FootballFanatic: “While Rodri’s influence in big games like the Champions League final was unmatched, others feel consistency in domestic leagues should count more. Is the Ballon d’Or really about season-long impact, or does it come down to standout moments?”
@SoccerSavvy: “It’s definitely a surprising outcome. Rodri may not have been the standout player in the Premier League or for Spain last season, but the Ballon d’Or considers overall contributions, including key performances in crunch matches. His impact on Manchester City’s success, particularly in the Champions League, likely played a big role in his win.”
@CriticalFan: “Not everyone agrees with Rodri winning. Some feel the Premier League is biased towards English players, and Rodri is Spanish, so he didn’t stand a chance.”
@RodriFan: “He didn’t outperform Rodri. Check out Rodri’s stats in the national team. Bellingham only performed for his club, while Rodri excelled for both club and country!”
@FairPlayAdvocate: “This time around, Rodri won based on character rather than stats. Vinicius Jr. may have had better numbers, but Rodri’s good sportsmanship and leadership qualities likely swayed voters.”
The debate rages on, with fans and pundits alike weighing in on whether Rodri truly deserved football’s biggest individual honor. Only time will tell if this Ballon d’Or win will go down in history as one of the most controversial in recent years.
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