Brazilian Criticism Flares Over Rodri’s Ballon d’Or Win Ahead of Vinicius Junior

Manchester City midfielder Rodri’s recent Ballon d’Or win sparked controversy in Brazil, with many journalists and politicians expressing disappointment over Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior’s absence from the top prize. Rodri’s award recognized his contributions to Manchester City’s victories and Spain’s Euro 2024 win, yet commentators argue that Vinicius—Real Madrid’s top scorer, pivotal to their La Liga and Champions League successes—was overlooked.

Some Brazilian commentators, such as Guga Chacra from Globo News, question whether racial bias influenced the outcome, citing Vinicius’s outspoken stance against racism in Spain as a potential factor. Others, including Gustavo Faldon from *Estadao*, view the decision as historically unjust, asserting Vinicius’s achievements warranted the award. The event has reignited discussion on European bias in football awards, with prominent sports commentator Galvao Bueno and others suggesting that Vinicius’s activism may have created “discomfort” among voters.

The decision was close, according to France Football’s Vincent Garcia, with Real Madrid players like Bellingham and Carvajal siphoning votes away from Vinicius. Vinicius responded defiantly on social media, earning support from Brazil’s racial equality minister Anielle Franco, who vowed that racial injustice would not hinder their fight for equality.