The 2024 Ballon d’Or was not as peaceful as some previous ones because it brought a plot twist, already creating waves on social media and among fans. The announcement of midfielder Rodri Hernandez, who plays for Manchester City and the Spanish national team, as the award winner instead of Read Madrid forward Vinicius Jr, created an uproar. 

This choice caused people to split opinions, leading them to take sides and express their anger on TV. Most wanted Vini to win the award following his recent performances. But some believe Rodri deserved it due to his victory in the Euros with Spain. All in all, it’s a messy situation and one fan went as far as destroying a prized possession.

Real Madrid fan violently breaks TV after controversial success of Rodri

A video uploaded by @elchiringuitotv on Instagram showed the visible anger of one fan over this decision. This one video was almost like an example for many Real Madrid fans who were upset because the Brazilian stalwart did not win the award. Several fans and soccer analysts are unhappy with the news that Rodri took home the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

Vinicius Jr, a clear fan favorite with the other Real Madrid representatives, did not go to Paris for the ceremony. It’s a clear sign of dissatisfaction from the Spanish club.

Therefore, it prompted a fan to smash a TV apart. His friends stood there in disbelief, not understanding why he did it. With the Real Madrid jersey on, you know he is a clear supporter of Vinicius Jr. Those are expensive stuff man, and we’re pretty sure a huge fight broke out after the incident.

However, why is this decision causing such an outcry from fans and veterans? For starters, Ballon d’Or jurors are sports journalists from 100 countries, designated according to FIFA’s ranking. This panel is supposed to judge the candidates based on three criteria: “individual performances, strong and impressive character“, “team accomplishments“, and “class and fair play.”

Looking at Rodri’s success, numerous fans wonder if they adhered to these criteria rigidly. Vinicius Jr.’s season was full of clutch goals, amazing dribbles, and constant power to swing important matches. The Brazilian forward proved himself as one of the most menacing players in Europe because he led the attack of Real Madrid to victory. The non-appearance of the Spanish team also speaks volumes about what they feel at the moment. It’s not just the fans who are outraged, but the team is also upset. Since Kaká won the Ballon d’Or in 2007, a Brazilian player did not step on the Ballon d’Or podium.

Finally, people expected Vini Jr. to break this dry spell and, according to the stats, it was evident he would have been the winner. However, this was not the case and as fans were busy showing their rage on social media, Vini Jr. also spoke up on social media about the same.

Vinicius Jr speaks up on his Ballon d’Or snub

The soccer world is already divided and raging because of this decision, but now the man of the hour has spoken. Vinicius Junior somehow stepped up to open up for the first time after the Ballon d’Or loss. The Brazilian winger, regarded as the catalyst for Real Madrid’s success in the Champions League and La Liga last season, was visibly disappointed. He posted his emotions on social media stating, “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”

Many soccer veterans stepped up to give a shoulder to the young star. One of them was Toni Kroos, the retired German maestro who posted two pictures of him alongside Vinicius Jr. on Instagram. He also wrote a caption saying, “The best.” As the post was seen by the 24-year-old, he commented on the photo of him with Kroos and replied, “Te quiero, Antonio!!” which translates to “I love you, Antonio.”

Unfortunately, the Brazilian forward did not win this award, and this outrage will be written in the history of the soccer world. Regardless of this fact, from the looks of Vinicius Jr.’s stance, he has made peace with this decision. Hopefully, he can show what’s he about by using this as motivation.