Your Men’s Ballon d’Or 2024 winner is Rodri. As soon as this declaration was made on October 28, all hell broke loose. A wave of controversy erupted with fans of Vinicius Jr expressing their discontent over what they deemed an unjust decision. Just when the uproar seemed to be subsiding, an additional issue arose from a video. It captured Rodri mocking the Real Madrid star after winning the prestigious award.

Yes, the internet exploded with reactions following Manchester City’s social media post. The video in question featured Rodri celebrating his Ballon d’Or triumph at a friends and family gathering. But what drew particular attention was an instance where the Spaniard seemingly sang, “Ay Vinicius, ay Vinicius, ay Vinicius, ciao, ciao, ciao,” which translates to “Oh Vinicius, oh Vinicius, oh Vinicius, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.”

Shortly thereafter, the club deleted the original video. But, they re-uploaded it without the 28-year-old’s chanting segment. Yet, in all fairness, the background noise made it difficult to determine who started the chants. It obviously leaves some doubt about whether Rodri actually stated those words. The situation has sparked considerable debate among fans about his involvement in the chant.

Nevertheless, reputable sources such as Liveherewego by Fabrizio Romano and El Chiringuito have asserted that Rodri did make those comments directed at Vinicius Jr. Yet neither he nor Manchester City have publicly addressed or denied these allegations. The topic is definitely a mystery, but there is no denying the damage done with fans turning on the Manchester City star with remarks like “Wow! This is class right?” and “Imagine if Vini did this,” among others.

Interestingly, amid all this, a weird trend has taken over social media regarding the Ballon d’Or result. And if your name is Rodri or Rodrigo, then be worried about Vinicius Jr. fans, given how similar situations unfolded for other public figures named similarly recently.

Rodri’s name doppelgangers facing the wraith of Vinicius Jr fans

Recently, an unusual trend has emerged on social media. Significantly, celebrities named Rodri have seen their Instagram posts inundated with comments from fans insisting that Vinicius Jr. deserves the Ballon d’Or. You might wonder why this is happening.

That’s just how the internet operates! Celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo, who has no connection to soccer, are also facing backlash from the Brazilian star’s supporters simply due to her name’s similarity to Man City’s Rodri.

Her Instagram comment section is cluttered with remarks such as “You don’t deserve that Ballon d’Or” and “You robbed Vini.” Another prominent figure experiencing similar reactions is Rodrigo De Paul of Atlético Madrid and Argentina. It’s essentially the same scenario playing out repeatedly in his case too.

The Ballon d’Or has clearly influenced social media in significant ways, and it may take some time for things to return to normalcy.