Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real Madrid winger, Vinicius Junior was denied a Ballon d’Or that was handed to Manchester City midfielder, Rodri. The Portuguese superstar who had joined Vinicius for the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, where Vinicius beat both Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham as Best Men’s Player praised Rodri but insisted Vinicius had the stronger claim on the prestigious honor.
“In my opinion, Vinicius deserved to win the Ballon d’Or,” Ronaldo said. “Rodri deserved it too, but Vinicius won the Champions League and scored in the final. For me, that should have been the deciding factor. This is why I love Globe Soccer—they give honest awards.”
Another award in the name of the recently named The Best FIFA Men’s Player, Vinicius thanked Ronaldo on-site.
“If Cristiano says that I am the best, then I will believe it. It is an honour sharing this moment with my idols, Cristiano and Neymar,” the Brazilian said.
On social media, Vinicius reflected on his achievements: “Winning five titles with Real Madrid this year and being recognized individually by Globe Soccer is a dream come true. I’m grateful to my teammates, Real Madrid, Flamengo, and the Brazilian national team for their support.”
The recognition caps off a stellar year for Vinicius, cementing his status as one of world football’s brightest stars.