The Ballon d’Or award night, known for celebrating football’s finest talent, encountered an awkward blunder when a photo mix-up left fans scratching their heads and the organizing team scrambling to make a quick correction. The spotlight misstep happened when a social media post meant to honor Manchester City’s standout midfielder, Rodri, mistakenly featured his teammate, Ruben Dias.

But that was soon noticed and shared online by fans, and the mix-up was on the official Instagram page of Ballon d’Or. They wanted to share the picture of the Spanish midfielder and an integral part of Manchester City’s treble-winning season, Rodri. The picture published, however, was not Rodri. It had Ruben Dias, the Portuguese center-back who plays with him. Though they have a similar face, the two are different in their playing positions, styles, and personalities. 

This blunder couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Ballon d’Or team, as football fans everywhere are glued to their screens, eagerly anticipating the award ceremony. It quickly became a never-ending running joke on social media filled with memes and comments.

To their credit, the Ballon d’Or team responded quickly to fan outcry, editing the post and replacing the name with Ruben Dias. However, by then, the mix-up had already spread, leaving the organizers somewhat red-faced.

Fans react to the post

Fans instantly noticed the error, flooding the comments with humorous remarks and sarcastic observations, as one fan wrote, “That is NOT Rodri.”

This gaffe has sparked broader questions about the accuracy of Ballon d’Or’s award process and attention to detail, especially given the scrutiny and prestige surrounding these awards. Someone commented, “This award losing credibility.” Such a slip-up is both rare and glaring, making it all the more comical for fans who often find lighthearted joy in these high-stakes ceremonies. Another guy said, “You don’t even know who Rodri is and you’re going to give him the award, that’s Ruben! What a joke! 🤣”

One user humorously commented, “That’s Ruben Dias…” while another said, “Damn Rodri looking so much like Ruben Diaz after that ACL injury.” Fans have even speculated that Dias and Rodri might be in on the joke, adding to the humor of the whole affair.

The final result of the mistake is an enjoyable moment that football fans of the world can share among themselves. Although embarrassing to the organizers, this mistake has given fans a brief moment of shared laughter, an unexpected highlight leading to the big event.