The dust from Monday’s 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony is far from settling.
While many in the soccer community celebrated Rodri’s victory, there’s a significant portion still reeling over the Manchester City star snatching the award from Vinicius Junior.
The latest heavyweight to weigh in on the controversy is none other than Zinedine Zizou Zidane, who, much like Cristiano Ronaldo, believes that Vini Jr. truly “deserves recognition.”
Zidane’s remarks reflect a strong Madridista sentiment, advocating for the Brazilian forward to have claimed the prestigious accolade instead. Discussing the results with Dazn, Zidane stated, “If we look at the performances over the season, Vinicius Jr. was outstanding. He deserves recognition for all his hard work and talent.”
But Zidane didn’t stop there. He took aim at France Football and its affiliates for allegedly failing to maintain the integrity of such an esteemed award within the sport. He emphasized, “The winner may not be the one who truly deserves it.
Honestly, this award lost its credibility in 2018 when Cristiano Ronaldo did not win it,” a pointed remark that underscores his skepticism. Interestingly, this mirrors Ronaldo’s own frustrations with prestigious individual accolades like FIFA The Best and the Ballon d’Or. Last season, as his rival Lionel Messi celebrated a historic eighth title, Ronaldo expressed that it’s no longer about whether Messi deserved the accolade or if others like Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland were more deserving. His clear stance was: “I simply no longer believe in these awards.”
As a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo’s disillusionment with the awards that once brought him joy has become evident. His frustrations highlight issues with both the voting process and how outcomes are determined.
Now, Zidane has echoed those sentiments, openly sharing his concerns and adding weight to the ongoing conversation about the legitimacy of these honors.
As the debate continues, it raises critical questions about how merit is measured in the world of soccer and whether the most deserving players are truly getting the recognition they deserve.
