Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has downplayed suggestions that the club influenced Rodri’s 2024 Ballon d’Or victory, which sparked controversy after the Manchester City midfielder won over Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.
The announcement, made on Monday, led La Liga champions Real Madrid to boycott the event, with many fans dubbing Rodri’s win as the “biggest robbery in football history.”
Addressing the media today, Guardiola responded to the criticism, saying, “Vinicius should’ve won the Ballon d’Or? Maybe, but it’s what happened. It’s journalists; it’s not a group of elite people that decide what they have to do. It’s all around the world; it’s not just one country voting.”
Guardiola’s comments emphasized the diverse global voting process behind the Ballon d’Or selection, attempting to shift focus away from any single influence on the outcome.
