Rodrygo’s Ballon d’Or Snub Sparks Outrage Among Fans
The Ballon d’Or nominees for 2024 have been announced, and fans are still reeling from the shocking exclusion of Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. The Brazilian international took to social media to vent his frustrations, posting a collage of his impressive 2023/24 season, including his Champions League triumph.
Rodrygo’s omission from the list of nominees has sparked a heated debate among fans, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment and outrage. The 23-year-old had an incredible season, scoring 10 goals and providing five assists in 28 La Liga starts. His impressive form earned him a spot in the Real Madrid squad that won the Champions League, and his individual performances caught the attention of fans and pundits alike.
Fans are questioning the criteria used by the Ballon d’Or organizers to select the nominees, with many pointing out that Rodrygo’s achievements are more deserving of recognition than some of the players who made the cut. "This is unfair and a shame for football," wrote one fan. "How can Rodrygo be excluded from the Ballon d’Or nominees when he has proven himself as one of the best players in football?"
The full list of nominees includes Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Lautaro Martinez, Ademola Lookman, Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Carvajal, William Saliba, Lamine Yamal, Bukayo Saka, Hakan Calhanoglu, Rodri, Declan Rice, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, Vitinha, Vinicius Jr, Martin Odegaard, Dani Olmo, Florian Wirtz, Mats Hummels, Erling Haaland, Nicolas Williams, Granit Xhaka, Artem Dovbik, Toni Kroos, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, Federico Valverde, and Emiliano Martinez.
The lack of representation from traditional powerhouses like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has also sparked controversy, with some fans calling the award a "popularity contest." The absence of these two legends has opened the door for other players to make a statement, but the snub of Rodrygo has left many fans feeling underwhelmed.
Men’s Ballon d’Or Award Shortlist in Full
- Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid
- Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
- Lautaro Martinez – Inter
- Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
- Alejandro Grimaldo – Bayer Leverkusen
- Dani Carvajal – Real Madrid
- William Saliba – Arsenal
- Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
- Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
- Hakan Calhanoglu – Inter
- Rodri – Man City
- Declan Rice – Arsenal
- Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
- Cole Palmer – Chelsea
- Vitinha – PSG
- Vinicius Jr – Real Madrid
- Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
- Dani Olmo – Barcelona
- Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen
- Mats Hummels – Roma
- Erling Haaland – Man City
- Nicolas Williams – Athletic Bilbao
- Granit Xhaka – Bayer Leverkusen
- Artem Dovbik – Roma
- Toni Kroos – Real Madrid
- Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
- Phil Foden – Man City
- Ruben Dias – Man City
- Federico Valverde – Real Madrid
- Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa
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