Rodri has issued a response to Cristiano Ronaldo labelling the Ballon d’Or 'unfair' after the Manchester City star was awarded the prize in October.
Ronaldo had appeared to question the credibility of the historic awards ceremony while he was attending the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards.
The event had seen Vinicius Jr was named the best men’s footballer of the year, while Rodri had claimed the equivalent award at the Ballon d’Or in Paris.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner insisted that Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr also should have received the honour for his achievements in 2024.
Ronaldo said: ‘Vinicius Jr should have won the Ballon d’Or, in my opinion it was clear.
‘It was unfair. This is why I love Globe Soccer Awards, they are honest.’
Rodri was asked about Ronaldo's statement in an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, with the star labelling the comments as a 'surprise'.
'Well, it was a surprise, really, because he knows better than anyone how this award works and, above all, how the winner is chosen,' Rodri said.
'This year, the journalists who vote have decided that I should win it.
'Probably, these same journalists were the ones who at some point voted for him to win it, and I imagine that then he would have agreed.'
Rodri had claimed the Men's Ballon d'Or after helping City to become the first team ever to win four consecutive top flight titles in England.
The midfielder also served as an integral component in Luis de la Fuente's Euro 2024-winning Spain side.
Rodri, who had lost only one club game in 18 months, became the first player from the Premier League to achieve the feat since Ronaldo himself with Manchester United in 2008.
His triumph proved controversial with Real Madrid opting to withdraw a 50-strong delegation just hours before their ceremony.
The Spanish giants had reportedly been tipped off that Vinicius, who had been the bookies' favourite for the prize, had not won.
Since the ceremony, Vinicius has scooped the Best FIFA Men's Player award, as well as being honoured at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards.
Nepbekrsty
58
Rodri is the best player at Man city and the best player at Spain and also be the best player in 💶 euro 2024 , also be the best defensive midfielder in the world 🌍 2024 and also set a record of playing full season only one game lose. why rodri don't deserve the ballon d'or.
Jozbcdils
32
vini doesn't deserve it coz he doesn't play 😒 good at Brazil.
Pecelrtuz
28
If Globe soccer is honest then, mitrovic should have won it, cr7 fans explain to us how the globe award is won and why pedu won it
puuabeopyz
24
Ronaldo is an hypocrite anything that does not favor him is not fair to him, one thing remains certain he can not take from rodri and give it to vini,
MANCITYTHECHAMPIONS
17
When madrid player don’t win an individual award to them is rigid, is robbery. Because to them every good things about football should go to madrid. If not madrid then is robbery 😃. They criticised Fifa for awarding messi the fifa world best, this time around Vini was awarded the FIFA WORLD BEST PLAYER, now they say Fifa award is the best, is more credible then the Baloon dOR.Yet this same people said FIFA always robbed the award for Messi. All i can say is don’t take madrid fans serious, they don’t understand football, they are just noise makers. I never take them serious. Madrid fans can’t make logic and critical analysis when it comes to football , they are very emotional When something doesn’t go their way. I don’t call these people football fans, they just follow football with one eyes to argue for no reason. 😄👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿
winabcekls
17
Only unfair because it’s a Real Madrid cartel. BEllingham average player at dortmund. Now at Real Madrid he’s suddenly ballon dor material.
22921214(deleted)
12
Everything is rigged when they or the one they support don't win. WC was rigged because Argentina won. Ballon d'or was rigged because Vini didn't win. Would have the WC been legit if Argentina lost?? Was it rigged when Modric won?? Be fair fans.
mauinopty
11
what hurts Ronaldo is that someone has won it in England it hurts him bad.
Subz2326
7
Rodri deserves the ballon d'or prize no doubts...vinicious is just hype and can do in club but not for brazil...overhyped footballer of all times