Karim Benzema reveals talk with ‘sad’ Vinicius Junior after ‘complicated’ Ballon d’Or disappointment as Real Madrid legend insists 2024 winner Rodri lacks the same ‘wow’ factor

Manchester City talisman Rodri claimed the Golden Ball earlier this week, edging out Madrid star Vinicius Jr into second. Los Blancos boycotted the event in Paris when they learned the 24-year-old would not claim the top award. Now, former Madrid team-mate and Al-Ittihad striker Benzema has stated his belief that the winger would have been a more deserving winner, adding that Vinicius Jr is crestfallen about the result, and that this whole episode is “complicated”.

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  WHAT KARIM BENZEMA SAID

  He told El Chiringuito: “Last year, when Real Madrid were European champions, Vinicius was decisive in every game. So I don’t think there is anyone else who deserves it more than Vinicius.

  “I have nothing against Rodri, he’s a good player, but I’m sitting on my couch watching TV and Rodri doesn’t do anything that makes you say ‘wow’. Vinicius has done it to me more than once, so it’s a bit of a shame because he deserved the Ballon d’Or.

  “I hope he [Vinicius] is mentally strong. Yesterday I was talking to Vinicius and he is strong enough to work and one day he will have it (the Ballon d’Or).

  “I wrote him a message and he was sad. It’s normal. It’s a bit complicated when everyone sees you winning the Ballon d’Or and in the end, a day before or a few hours before, they tell you that you’re not going to win it. It’s very complicated. Vinicius is a good kid, he is going to work and one day he will win the Ballon d’Or.”

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Whether or not Vinicius deserved to come out on top, and he did have a very good case for winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time, the fallout from this has, arguably, been unprecedented. The Brazil international later said “they’re not ready” after he didn’t win the coveted gong, with the forward suggesting his fight against racism is one reason why he missed out. Either way, this is one of the most talked about editions of the event there has ever been.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Vinicius Jr may look to take his frustration out during Madrid’s next Liga match away to bottom-of-the-table Valencia on Saturday. Rodri, on the other hand, is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.