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Rodri hits back at criticism

Key contributions by the midfielder

Manchester City midfielder, Rodri, has responded to the criticism from Cristiano Ronaldo regarding his recent Ballon d'Or triumph. The Spanish midfielder was crowned the best men's player of the year in October following a remarkable 12-month period that saw him secure both the Premier League and Euro 2024 titles with Spain.

Rodri narrowly edged out Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr for this prestigious individual accolade. However, not everyone was pleased with this outcome. Upon learning that he would not be receiving the award, Vinicius and his Los Blancos teammates chose to boycott the awards ceremony in protest.

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Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo subsequently voiced his opinion on Rodri's victory at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. He argued that Vinicius should have been awarded top honors instead.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr player, said:

“In my opinion, he (Vinicius) deserved to win the golden ball [Ballon d'Or]. It was unfair in my opinion. I say [it] here in front of everybody.
“They gave it to Rodri, he deserved it too, but I think they should have given it to Vinicius because he won the Champions League and scored in the final.”

In an interview with Spanish publication, Rodri expressed surprise and confusion over Ronaldo’s comments about his win.

Rodri, Manchester City midfielder, said:

"Well, it’s a surprise, honestly, because he knows better than anyone how this award works and, above all, how the winner is chosen.
"This year, the journalists who voted decided I should win it. These same journalists probably voted for him to win it at some point, and I imagine he agreed with them then."

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Despite these controversies surrounding his Ballon d’Or triumph, there is no denying that Rodri played a crucial role in both club and country successes during 2024.

Rodri was named Player of The Tournament at Euro 2024 as he helped Spain lift their trophy. Additionally, he played an instrumental role in helping Manchester City clinch their fourth consecutive Premier League title last season.

His significance to both teams is evident from one striking statistic: he has lost just one match for either team in the past 18 months.

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While debates and controversies are part and parcel of any sport, Rodri's response to Ronaldo's criticism reflects his understanding of the award process. His contributions to both Manchester City and Spain have been significant, making him a deserving recipient of the Ballon d'Or. As sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts continue to follow these developments, it will be interesting to see how this narrative unfolds in future awards ceremonies.

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