Yes, Rodri deserved the Ballon d’Or.
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The Ballon d’Or is an award from a French Magazine called France Football. It is voted by journalists from each country from FIFA’s top 100 rankings. Yes, one American gets a vote.
Rodri won the award this year, and it came with controversy. It isn’t the first time this award has been presented with controversy, and won’t be the last.
Just last year Erling Haaland won the treble and broke the record for goals in a Premier League season. Unfortunately, he lost because France Football decided to give Messi one last Ballon d’Or. This isn’t an MVP award in the NBA or NFL. This award was chosen not to be given in 2020 because the first French division was stopped in March. The people who run the award make up the rules as they go on, and they don’t care what you think.
Rodri won the Premier League title and won the Euros with Spain. He deserved the award…but others did too.
Why Rodri Deserved to Win
Over the past season, there hasn’t been a player more important to their side than Rodri. Rodri went 74 games in the Manchester City side unbeaten. When he is out of the side, as he is currently, you see the effect it has on City.
In the 34 games he played in the Premier League, he won 27 and drew seven. In the Champions League, he played eight, won six, and drew two. City lost on penalties to Real Madrid in the quarter-final.
Losing on penalties does not count as a loss, rather it is a draw.
Rodri’s performance in the Euros was what set him apart from other contenders. Rodri was integral to Spain having a perfect record in the Euros. Spain never looked like they were going to wobble. They knocked out Germany and France on their way to the final. Rodri played a big part in dictating the tempo of the game for Spain and being able to allow their attack to get forward.
Historically, the Ballon d’Or voters put a ton of stock into international tournaments. Luka Modric won the 2018 Ballon d’Or when he led Croatia to a surprise finals appearance in the World Cup. Manuel Neuer finished third in the Ballon d’Or in 2014 when he was outstanding in goal for Germany during their win in the 2014 World Cup.
One could pose the argument however that Rodri went out in the final against England at the Euros and Spain still won.
Lastly…media narratives drive a lot of conversation and over the last two years, Rodri has been talked about as Manchester City’s best and most important player.
Others Who Deserved the Award
Rodri wasn’t the only candidate who deserved the award. In my mind, the Ballon d’Or could’ve been handed to three other players.
Vinicius Júnior may have the best case to win the award, if not on just individual performance, but on character as well. Vini Jr has been outspoken about the racist treatment he’s got from Spanish fans in La Liga. He’s been a lightning rod for conversation about the issue and giving him this award would have signaled a nod to his work on and off the field.
Vini Jr was also terrifying on the biggest stage. He scored against Bayern Munich, laid on two assists against Man City, and scored in the final of the Champions League against Dortmund.
Nitpicking, Vini Jr didn’t show up in the Copa America. He had two goals in three matches but was suspended for the quarterfinal loss against Uruguay. Brazil is the New York Yankees of international football. Their best player is expected to carry them. Vini Jr didn’t.
Jude Bellingham finished third in the Ballon d’Or voting. If England managed to beat Spain, I believe he would’ve won this award. Bellingham was HIM during England’s run to the final of the Euros. He scored big goals during that run and laid on an assist for Cole Palmer’s equalizer against Spain in the final. Bellingham had 19 goals and six assists in La Liga.
Lautaro Martinez was the best player in Serie A, scoring 35 goals in all competitions, and won the Golden Boot (top scorer) at the Copa America. For some unknown reason, he finished seventh. Martinez had a better overall season than Erling Haaland but finished behind him. Strange.
Conclusion
The Ballon d’Or has become an obsession amongst top footballers. Neymar went to PSG in hopes of winning the award but didn’t. Vini Jr has responded to finishing second. Antoine Griezmann has spoken openly about how much he wanted to win it.
It has something to do with the trophy itself. A golden ball that looks as if it was mined 3,500 feet down.
Unfortunately due to this obsession, the award and the award show have become ground zero for thoughts and feelings over who the best player in the world is. Real Madrid members didn’t go to the award show despite having two of the top three finishers, and somehow the coach of the year.
During the dominance of Messi and Ronaldo in which they won 13 of 15 Ballon d’Or’s, each showed up to congratulate the other on winning. It’s a joke that Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony. And horrible sportsmanship.
Xabi Alonso coached Bayern Leverkusen to a historic undefeated Bundesliga season. He lost one game in all competitions. Leverkusen ended Munich’s 11-year Bundesliga title run. Alonso’s side played beautiful football and scored amazing goals.
Xabi Alonso didn’t win coach of the year. I think that tells you all you need to know about the awards given out on Monday night in Paris.
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