Well, what a night it was last night in Paris – Rodri lifted the Ballon d’Or. But it is also safe to say, the reactions to this event have sparked considerable controversy. Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr not winning the coveted award has left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths which also includes Bayern Munich legend Franck Ribery – another name that hasn’t had the fondest of memories regarding this event.

Following Rodri’s announcement as the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner, Ribery expressed his feelings on Instagram. He clearly showed his discontent with Rodri’s victory by posting “Ballon d’Or” accompanied by three laughing emojis. It seems that Ribery aligns with the views of players like Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema, who also advocate for Vinicius being the deserving recipient.

This echoes similar sentiments he shared back in 2013 regarding that year’s award results. “It was unfair,” is just one of many criticisms Ribery has voiced about the Ballon d’Or process. For context, Cristiano Ronaldo took home the accolade in 2013 while Franck Ribery finished third behind Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. That year marked a remarkable season for him. The ex-France star won an incredible treble—including Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB-Pokal titles—alongside scoring 34 goals and earning UEFA Best Player in Europe honors.

Despite these accomplishments, he didn’t win the prestigious award—a decision often deemed one of the most contentious moments in its history. Even now, Ribery feels cheated out of what he believes should have been his trophy. “They extended the time for votes, and something strange happened,” he remarked previously. “I felt that it was a political choice.” Regrettably, for him, Franck Ribery never had another opportunity to claim a Ballon d’Or since then. Aside from Ribery, other soccer stars have also come to Vinicius Jr.’s support.

Real Madrid stars protest against Vinicius Jr’s snub

While Ballon d’Or didn’t consider Vinicius Jr the best, Toni Kroos certainly did. He took to Instagram to post a picture of the Brazilian star while adding the caption “The Best.” Additionally, Real Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti took a moment to commend Vinicius, expressing gratitude by saying, “I want to thank my Family, my President, my Club, my Players, and above all Vini and Carvajal.”

Although Karim Benzema is no longer part of Real Madrid, his allegiance remains strong as he supported Vinicius with a comment stating “Trop Fort,” which means “Too strong.” While the Ballon d’Or event may have concluded, it appears that discussions around it are just beginning.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.