Vinicius Jr continues to be triggered by Rodri’s historic Ballon d’Or triumph in new interview | OneFootball

Manchester City’s history-defining moment courtesy of Rodri at the Ballon d’Or ceremony late last year continues to feature in media reports weeks later.

The Spanish midfielder became the first defensive-minded central player to win the award since Germany’s Lothar Matthaus in 1990, as a justified reward for the exceptional contributions to both club and country over 2024.

Winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title with Manchester City off the back of a Player of the Tournament role at the FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, Rodri travelled with Spain to Germany for the 2024 European Championships.

While Luis de la Fuente’s squad were not tipped as tournament favourites, their controlled way of playing defeated opposition from the likes of Italy, Germany, and France en route to the final in Berlin were they secured the trophy over Gareth Southgate’s England.

But while Rodri also won Player of the Tournament at the European Championships too alongside the competition triumph with his teammates and goal contributions in Germany, some were left strangely confused by his victory at the Ballon d’Or ceremony last Autumn.

Speaking after Real Madrid’s latest victory in European competition and after a starring performance from Vinicius Jr, the Brazilian winger himself appeared to remain affected by Rodri’s triumph over him in the chase for the Ballon d’Or.

“Individual awards are of course important, but… We can’t talk so much, it’s not the vote that people expected, but we have to continue,” Vinicius Jr told TNT Sports Brazil, as translated and relayed by Football Espana.

He continued, “Rodrygo, Kylian (Mbappe), Jude (Bellingham), to do great things.”

Vinicius Jr and the entire Real Madrid delegation opted to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris last year after they became aware of Rodri’s victory in the lead-up to the award being handed out in the French capital.

Those within the Santiago Bernabeu camp felt it was a certain success for their winger, despite his failure to contribute to anything of note for the Brazilian national team, unlike Rodri for his country over the course of last summer.