Rodri gave a clear answer about who he thinks are the favorites to win the Ballon d’Or. “Out of affection, I would like Lamine or Pedri to win, although if it’s based on sporting merits, maybe Ousmane or Vitinha,” he said at the press conference. Although he mentioned Yamal as one of the favorites, implying that he does not have sufficient sporting merits was somewhat controversial.

In the 2024-25 season, Lamine Yamal emerged as one of the world’s top talents, netting 18 goals and delivering 25 assists over 55 appearances for Barcelona. His influence extended to the international stage, where he shone for Spain in the Nations League, scoring three goals and contributing one assist. Despite being 18 years old and not winning the 2025 Champions League title, his remarkable performances have solidified his status among the elite.

Rodri made headlines by including Pedri and Vitinha among his favorite players for the prestigious award. While neither player is known for scoring goals like wingers or forwards, their recent performances have been vital, significantly impacting their team’s offense. Notably, Vitinha stands out as a strong contender for the award, having clinched both the Champions League and Nations League titles last season.

When will the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or be announced?

Following an action-packed season, anticipation for the 2025 Ballon d’Or is reaching a fever pitch as several standout candidates vie for soccer’s most prestigious individual honor. The winner will be revealed on Monday, September 22, during a grand ceremony at the iconic Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

Either Dembele or Lamine could make history by winning the Ballon d’Or

Despite featuring strong contenders for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal are the top favorites to chinch the award. And both have opportunities to make history. if Paris Saint-Germain’s standout Dembele wins, he will become the sixth French player to earn the honor. This victory would elevate France to eight awards, tying with Argentina for the most in the award’s history.

Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal holds the potential to set an astonishing record. Should the Barcelona prodigy win, he would become the youngest Ballon d’Or recipient ever, achieving this feat at just 18 years and 2 months old. This would surpass Ronaldo Nazario’s milestone, established when he won at 21 years and 3 months.

“I can try to understand people who say from their couch: ‘You earn a lot of money, so you have to play.’ My reflection is that we simply need a little more rest. We can play the same number of games, but we should have more rest during the holidays to try to regenerate the body, try to come back and withstand the burden of so many games,” Kylian Mbappe said at a press conference with France.

Even if playing 60 games a year is standard for an NBA player, who might compete in a little over 80 games, the difference in rest periods makes Kylian’s request quite reasonable. According to FIFPro, soccer players receive a four-week break after their season concludes. Meanwhile, NBA players can rest for three months or even longer. This clear difference underscores the justification behind Mbappe’s words.

Kylian delved deeper into the conversation, emphasizing that an increased number of games does not necessarily translate to a better spectacle. He remarked, “I don’t remember seeing a soccer player who has played 60 games in a season at the highest level. I’ve seen some who are considered the best players in history, others who are perhaps a step below, but I’ve never seen a soccer player play 60 games at his best.”

Not only Kylian: Other soccer stars also voice concerns over intense match schedules

Although Kylian Mbappe is the latest player to speak out about FIFA‘s demanding schedule, he is not the first to raise concerns on the matter. Following the announcement of the 2025 Club World Cup, critics, including head coaches like Enzo Maresca and prominent players, quickly expressed their dissatisfaction over the minimal rest period after the season’s end. In response, two more soccer stars have echoed these critics.

Jules Kounde, star player for Barcelona and France, also decided to express his opinion about the high intensity of the professional schedule. “Sometimes in life, when we overdo things, we stop appreciating them. When we see too much, we no longer give it the same importance. That’s what’s happening with soccer — it’s overconsumption… These are things we need to put into perspective and I think they need to change.”

Rodri Hernandez, the latest Ballon d’Or winner, expressed dissatisfaction with the intense schedule in September 2024. “I think it’s too much. Someone has to look after us, because we are the protagonists of this sport, or business, or whatever you want to call it. It’s not all about money or marketing, it’s also about the quality of the spectacle… When the number of games increases, their performance and quality decrease.“

City supporters greeted Vini with a banner in the stands featuring an image of Rodri kissing the prestigious trophy, accompanied by the phrase “Stop crying your heart out,” a reference to an Oasis song and a clear dig at the Brazilian, who was widely regarded as the frontrunner for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

The jibes continued throughout the match at the Etihad, with fans chanting “Where’s your Ballon d’Or?” But the winger, unfazed, responded in style—by pointing at his jersey to reveal a patch celebrating Real Madrid’s record 15 UEFA Champions League titles, a full 14 more than Manchester City.

That was not Vinicius’ only response. After the match, he addressed the taunts head-on in his post-game press conference. “I saw the banner,” he acknowledged. “But whenever opposing fans do things like that, it only gives me more strength to deliver a great performance, and I believe I did that tonight.”

He also highlighted the significance of Real Madrid‘s legacy in the competition, noting the weight that history carries whenever the club steps onto the international stage. “They know our history and everything we’ve achieved in this competition,” Vinícius said. “This is our fifth time here, and while it’s always cold, this time we won. We have to keep this momentum going.”

Vinicius’ vital contribution to Madrid’s victory

Vinicius was crucial to Real Madrid’s victory in Manchester, providing the assist for Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time goal, which proved to be the match-winner. For his efforts, the Brazilian star was named MVP, but he remained focused on the collective effort rather than individual accolades.

“It wasn’t bad, I was able to play a great game, we defended very well and it doesn’t matter who scores goals or is the MVP, we are here to do great things for this shirt and put Madrid in the highest place,” Vini said after the match. And he even humorously admitted that in the decisive play, he had originally aimed to shoot but accidentally set up Bellingham: “The important thing was the win, no matter how it came. On the last ball, I tried to shoot, and it ended up going to Jude.”

A crucial game ahead for Real Madrid

While the victory in Manchester was a crucial step, Vinicius made it clear that Real Madrid’s work is far from done. The second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, set for next Wednesday, February 19, remains pivotal for securing their spot in the Champions League Round of 16.

“There’s still a lot of soccer to be played in the second leg,” Vini emphasized. “We need to defend like we did today and make sure our fans are behind us for what promises to be a magical night.”

We have entered a new year, but the controversy surrounding Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win is still a topic of discussion. After Cristiano Ronaldo called his victory “unfair” at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards, the Manchester City midfielder responded strongly to the Portuguese star.

In an interview with Diario AS, Rodri responded to Ronaldo’s comments with his own pointed observation: “Honestly, it’s a bit of a surprise, because he knows better than anyone how this award works and, above all, how the winner is selected. This year, the journalists who voted decided I should be the winner. These same journalists have probably voted for him in the past, and I assume he was happy with their choice back then.”

Ronaldo, who is himself a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, said that Vinicius Junior deserved the award more because he “won the Champions League and scored in the final” with Real Madrid. However, Vinicius ended second in the rankings. The Brazilian later claimed the FIFA The Best Award.

Rodri claimed his first Ballon d’Or in October, following a stellar year in which he helped Manchester City dominate the Premier League and led Spain to victory in Euro 2024. His achievement, however, has sparked considerable backlash from some prominent figures in football, including Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and more.

Rodri says the Ballon d’Or win changed his life

Rodri, who tore his ACL in September, spoke of the impact winning the Ballon d’Or has had on his day-to-day life. “It has changed my life,” he said. However, he admitted that his injury has also impacted him.

“Many things that I could do before, obviously, I can no longer do. But hey, it is for a good reason … I have the philosophy that in life you have to take things as they are given to you,” he said. “There is no need to complain when things are not the way you want or go crazy when you win a Ballon d’Or. God has given me what he has given me and I am extremely grateful. I have to deal with everything, including injuries, and move forward.“

Without Rodri, Manchester City have struggled in the Premier League, where they are sixth in the standings. Before defeating Leicester City last week, City had an awful record: one win in their last thirteen matches, one victory in the past nine ‘Premier’ rounds, and five consecutive away games without a win.

Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or record: How many trophies has he won?

Ronaldo, who has won the Ballon d’Or five times in his career, remains the second player with the most wins in history, trailing only Lionel Messi. The Portuguese forward first earned the prestigious award in 2008 while at Manchester United and held the distinction of being the last Premier League player to win it until Rodri’s triumph.

Almost a month after Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or over Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has finally explained why the club decided to not send any representatives to the gala. The boss slammed UEFA, who co-organized the event with France Football, and defended their position.

“It’s clear that this year the Ballon d’Or should have gone to a Real Madrid player, regardless of the criteria used, whether it was Vinicius, our captain Carvajal, or Bellingham. It’s very difficult to explain the final result. UEFA communicated that nothing would change with their involvement in the award, but, goodness gracious, for nothing to have changed… Surprising things have happened, and I want to tell you about them,” he said during the club’s general assembly, according to Relevo.

“First of all, UEFA has altered the voting system and the points that each journalist can give to each player. The maximum has increased from six to fifteen. And they’ve included journalists that nobody knows and from countries with populations of less than a million. Without the votes of four of them (Finland, Albania, Uganda, and Namibia), Vinicius would have won,” he added.

Relevo also informed that Real Madrid‘s coach Carlo Ancelotti, who won as best men’s coach of the year, as well as Jude Bellingham, who had brand commitments, were going to assist the gala, which took place in Paris, but Perez stopped them.

However, Perez said that his complaints have nothing to do with Rodri. “Last season he achieved the treble with his club and scored in the Champions League final. However, he didn’t even make it to the podium. Rodri is a fantastic footballer and, on top of that, he’s from Madrid. He has all our affection. But that has nothing to do with it,” he stated.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or was controversial

Rodri, who is currently recovering from an ACL injury, won the Ballon d’Or after being a key player for Spain and Manchester City. He won the UEFA Euro, while being the MVP of the tournament. He also lifted the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup titles.

However, it was expected that a Real Madrid player would have taken the award. While Vinicius Junior’s Brazil was eliminated from the Copa America early, he was the MVP of the Champions League and LaLiga winner. In all competitions, he scored 26 goals and provided 11 assists.

In an interview with Cadena SER, Rodri shared his perspective on Vinicius Jr., offering both praise and criticism. “I think Vinicius is intelligent, and with time, he will realize that the more he focuses on the pitch, the better he will be,” Rodri said. “He’s a great footballer, but he has areas to improve both on and off the field. He’s young, and I’m sure he has people to advise him well. Athletes also need to manage their off-field behavior.”

The remarks referred to accusations of arrogance and a perceived lack of respect from Vinicius toward his colleagues. Additionally, Real Madrid’s decision to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony—reportedly because Vinicius did not win—added to the controversy surrounding the Brazilian forward.

Neymar, known for his outspoken nature, didn’t hesitate to defend his national teammate. On Instagram, the Al-Hilal forward commented on Rodri’s statement, which was shared by the account Futeousadia, writing: “He became a talker now,” accompanied by laughing emojis.

The impact of Neymar’s comment

Neymar’s unexpected intervention sparked significant engagement on social media, garnering over 50,000 likes and 2,100 comments. The majority came from fans of Neymar and Vinicius Jr., who shared messages of support for the Brazilian stars while taking sides in the ongoing controversy with Manchester City’s Rodri.

Previous tensions between Rodri and Vinicius

This wasn’t the first time the Spanish midfielder had addressed Vini in a critical light. A few weeks ago, Rodri had to clarifiy that he did not intend to disrespect Vinicius during the Ballon d’Or celebrations, following the release of a controversial video by Manchester City that was subsequently taken down.

Adding to the tension, Rodri also criticized Real Madrid’s absence from the Ballon d’Or ceremony. “The second, the third, the fourth (best players) were absent… The best team of the year didn’t attend the ceremony, even though the best coach and joint top scorer were crowned. I would have acted differently, but they do what they want,” the Spanish star remarked in the Cadena SER interview.

A brewing rivalry

The escalating tensions between Rodri and Vinicius Jr. highlight the growing rivalry between Manchester City and Real Madrid, two of Europe’s footballing powerhouses. Neymar’s defense of Vinicius further underscores the solidarity among Brazilian players while adding another layer of drama to this ongoing saga.

Manchester City star Rodri, who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, appeared in Spain’s famous program El Hormiguero, where he discussed the greatest players of all time. The midfielder had an interesting opinion regarding Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the Argentine was more complete.

“Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, without any doubt. Cristiano has managed to match Messi without innate talent. But those of us who have played against them can see the difference. We didn’t want Cristiano to step into the box because he was lethal there. But with Messi, the danger was everywhere on the pitch,” he explained.

Rodri, further explained what makes the Argentine different: “When Messi got the ball, you’d think: ‘Oh, danger.’” When I first started playing against him, I tried to take the ball from him, and he dodged you as if you were a bull in the ring. The feeling I had was that something bad was about to happen.”

This is not the first time that Rodri talks about Messi, as he recently said he was one of the players he feared the most. As a Villarreal and Atletico Madrid player, Rodri faced both players several times.

Rodri, who is currently recovering from an ACL injury, won the Ballon d’Or, surprisingly edging Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior. The award is the jewel of the crown to a spectacular season in which he also won the UEFA Euro with Spain, and the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup with Manchester City.

Rodri will try to return to the pitch this season

Manchester City midfielder Rodri, currently sidelined with an ACL injury, remains optimistic about a potential return this season. Despite the severity of the injury, the Ballon d’Or winner is determined to push himself mentally and physically to rejoin his team.

“Yes, yes. The seasons are longer now, with the Club World Cup ending on July 13th. I want to challenge myself mentally,” he said recently. He suffered the injury during a 2-2 draw with Arsenal back in September.

Two weeks after clinching the Ballon d’Or award, Manchester City midfielder Rodri gave a lengthy interview with Partidazo de Cope, revaling the toughest opponent he’s faced after Lionel Messi.

Having played in LaLiga for Villarreal and Atletico Madrid before joining the Premier League, Rodri was asked which player he disliked facing: “Someone who can change a game or dominate you in the midfield.”

“Before, it was Leo (Messi),” he said. “In the Premier League, I’d say (Mohamed) Salah in his prime. Especially at Anfield, he’s like a knife – it’s really tough.” Despite injuries last season, Salah still impressed with 25 goals, 14 assists in 44 Liverpool appearances, and six goals, four assists in 10 games for Egypt.

Why he thinks he won the Ballon d’Or

On the other hand, Rodri was also asked about why he thinks he won the Ballon d’Or. He attributed this to his consistency: “The most difficult thing in soccer… But I’m not the one to say if I deserved it or not.”

Rodri won the Ballon d’Or after a successful season, capturing the UEFA Euro with Spain, the Premier League with Manchester City, and the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, edging out Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.

Rodri gave an injury update

Currently sidelined with an ACL injury suffered in a Premier League clash with Arsenal, Rodri remains optimistic about returning this season: “Yes, yes. The seasons are longer now, with the Club World Cup ending on July 13th. I want to challenge myself mentally.”

Pep Guardiola’s team, which has won the last four league titles, has felt the absence of their Ballon d’Or winner, losing four consecutive games and falling five points behind Liverpool in the Premier League.

Two weeks after the 2024 Ballon d’Or gala, Rodri has addressed his viral video mocking Vinicius Jr., who notably skipped the ceremony. The Spanish midfielder, who surprisingly won the prestigious award as the best player of the past season, insisted that the incident wasn’t intended to be “disrespectful” to the Real Madrid star.

“People need to understand that it’s healthy sportsmanship and we were celebrating in private,” Rodri said when asked about the video, which showed him and others singing “Goodbye, Vinicius, goodbye.” The clip, initially published by Manchester City, was later deleted.

“If we put a camera in every private party… At no point did I disrespect anyone. I have tremendous respect for Vinicius, Real Madrid, and every player nominated for the award. Everyone who knows me knows that,” Rodri told a program addressing the controversy.

Vinicius Jr., considered the favorite to win the Ballon d’Or, did not attend the gala. Neither did any Real Madrid player or representative, reportedly as part of a boycott protesting the Brazilian’s loss. After the ceremony, Vinicius shared a message on social media subtly criticizing the decision.

Rodri claimed the honor after an exceptional season, winning the UEFA Euro with Spain, the Premier League with Manchester City, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Across all competitions, he contributed 10 goals and 14 assists.

Rodri’s response to Real Madrid’s no-show

When asked if he expected a congratulatory message from Vinicius or Real Madrid, Rodri responded, “Why? They’re not my team.” When the host pressed, citing his Spanish nationality, he added: “Well, then all Spanish clubs would have to congratulate me, and they didn’t. I only care about my people, my family, my club, and those who support me.”

Commenting on Real Madrid’s absence from the gala, Rodri remarked: “They had their reasons. I wouldn’t have handled it that way, but that doesn’t mean it was right or wrong. Everyone makes their choices, and that’s it. There’s no need to overthink it.”

Players criticize the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards

Vinicius Jr. wasn’t the only one to express dissatisfaction. Several former Real Madrid stars, including Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema, also criticized the outcome. Lautaro Martinez, who placed seventh and had support from figures like Lionel Messi, voiced disappointment, claiming he deserved a better ranking.

One of the most outspoken critics was Spanish legend Iker Casillas, who dismissed the Ballon d’Or as lacking “any real criteria” for selecting winners, despite Rodri paying homage to him in his acceptance speech.

“I think the most decisive player in terms of numbers is Haaland,” the Spanish midfielder said of his Manchester City teammate, in an interview with El Partidazo de COPE. He elaborated further: “Erling is the only player today who can come close to Cristiano and Messi in terms of numbers. That’s my feeling.”

Rodri’s insight carries significant weight. He has played alongside Haaland at Manchester City for more than two seasons, witnessing the Norwegian striker’s brilliance firsthand. Additionally, his La Liga tenure with Villarreal and Atletico Madrid afforded him opportunities to square off against both Messi and Ronaldo during their primes.

The Spaniard didn’t stop at Haaland’s current form, highlighting the striker’s potential for sustained excellence. “He’s also very young,” Rodri added. “And I think he’s going to continue like this for years to come.”

Erling Haaland’s remarkable numbers

Erling Haaland celebrated his 24th birthday this summer, yet he already boasts extensive experience at the pinnacle of European soccer. Over nearly five years, spanning successful campaigns in Germany and England, the Norwegian striker has consistently performed at an elite level, breaking records along the way. This season, he further cemented his status by matching an impressive record from Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at Real Madrid.

Haaland has scored an astonishing 240 goals in 296 professional games, boasting a near one-goal-per-game average. For context, by the age of 24, Messi had netted 197 goals in 326 games, while Ronaldo had 132 in 362 matches. If Erling maintains his extraordinary scoring rate, he could emerge as a legitimate contender in the all-time scoring charts, currently led by CR7 and Leo.

Where Haaland falls short

Despite his jaw-dropping statistics, Haaland still lags behind in one crucial area: influence on the game’s narrative. By the age of 24, Cristiano Ronaldo had already won his first Ballon d’Or with Manchester United in 2008, while Lionel Messi claimed back-to-back Ballon d’Or titles with Barcelona in 2009 and 2010.

Haaland’s numbers alone haven’t yet translated into the universal acclaim or individual accolades that defined Messi and Ronaldo at a similar age. This year, for instance, it was Rodri—Haaland’s teammate—who was named the world’s best player, signaling that Erling’s impact on his team, though significant, may not yet rival the influence of the two legends.

According to L’Equipe, Rodri secured the top spot with a slim lead of just 41 points over Vinicius Junior—a razor-thin difference considering the Ballon d’Or’s scoring system: The panel of 99 voters ranked their top ten players, awarding 15 points for first place, 12 for second, and decreasing increments for subsequent positions.

Notably, three voters did not include Vinicius in their top ten, denying him any points. Rodri faced a similar situation, being omitted by five voters. These absences underline how subjective the evaluations can be, even at the highest level.

While Rodri and Vinicius were the clear frontrunners, seven other players received first-place votes from the 99 journalists. Jude Bellingham garnered five top votes, Dani Carvajal four, and Toni Kroos two. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Lautaro Martinez, and Ademola Lookman each earned a single first-place selection.

The final Ballon d’Or rankings

Rodri claimed the award with 1,170 points, followed closely by Vinicius Junior at 1,129 points. The top ten included:

3- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)

4- Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)

5- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

6- Kylian Mbappé (formerly Paris Saint-Germain)

7- Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)

8- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

9- Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)

10- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

Real Madrid’s dominance in the rankings reflected their successes in the Champions League and La Liga. Four of their players made the top ten, with Mbappé, listed as a Paris Saint-Germain player during the voting period, now part of the Madrid squad.

The next awards

The debates surrounding the Ballon d’Or may reignite with the upcoming FIFA The Best awards, scheduled for early 2025. While the exact date is yet to be announced, the ceremony typically takes place in January, as seen in the 2024 edition on January 15.

Unlike the Ballon d’Or, which evaluates performances across the European football season (August to June), The Best considers achievements over the calendar year. This distinction could significantly alter the results, factoring in performances from the second half of 2024. Real Madrid and Manchester City stars are likely to dominate the conversation once again, but the final outcome remains unpredictable.