Rodri received a standing ovation as he accepted the 2024 Ballon d'Or at the Théâtre du Châtelet, but there was not a single Real Madrid representative in the audience.
Hours before the Ballon d'Or ceremony kicked off, news broke that Rodri had won the award over Vinícius Júnior. Although both players were the undeniable favorites to walk away with the prestigious honor, the Brazilian's contributions to Real Madrid's winning La Liga, Champions League and Spanish Super Cup campaigns gave him the slight edge.
The Ballon d'Or voters instead recognized Rodri's consistency and the integral role he played in Manchester City's fourth-straight Premier League title and Spain's Euro 2024 championship. In response, Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony.
In an interview with COPE radio, Rodri revealed how he truly felt about the noticeable absentees in Paris.
"Why would it hurt me [that Vinícius Júnior wasn't there]?" Rodri said. "It was my moment to enjoy with my family. The last thing I'd be thinking about is people who weren't there and didn't want to participate."






