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29th October 2024
09:51am GMT
Spurs forward Richarlison has launched a furious rant after his Brazil teammate Vinicius Jr missed out on this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The Real Madrid forward was favourite to win the coveted trophy and a list supposedly ‘leaked’ over the weekend appeared to show he had won it.
However, ahead of last night’s ceremony it was revealed Rodri had actually won the award and that Vinicius Jr’s team would boycott the event in protest.
Despite this result turning out to be correct the Chief Editor of France Football insisted nobody could have leaked the winner, saying: “I can guarantee you that no one from City or Real Madrid knew."
After it was confirmed that Rodri had won the award, social media was awash with a mix of congratulatory messages and outrage at the result.
When the rumours began to circulate earlier in the day that Rodri was the winner, Richarlison commented under the Ballon d’Or Instagram account.
He said: “If Vini doesn’t win, SH*T IS GONNA GO DOWN.”
And he wasn’t kidding! Richarlison went on to release a full statement on his Instagram account when the result became official.
He said: “All of us who live football await individual awards with great anticipation each season.
“Today, all Brazilians who love football woke up expecting to see another player from our country winning an award for the best in the world after so long.
“Unfortunately, due to criteria that no one can understand, the award did not come.”
He admitted that Rodri was a great player as he continued: “Don't get me wrong, Rodri is a great player, who deserves to be among the best. But Vini not winning this Ballon d'Or was embarrassing, and the only thing that lost today was football.
“I remember Vini saying that his dream was to see the whole of Brazil rooting for him. And that day was today! You're giant and the best in the world, kid! And no trophy will change that. Keep moving forward and never shut up! We're together!”
Vinicius Jr provided six goals and four assists in 10 Champions League games last season, on top of 20 goal involvements in 26 La Liga matches.
Meanwhile, Rodri became the first player in Manchester City’s history to win the award.
As well as winning the Premier League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup with City, he helped Spain win Euro 2024 in July.
It looks like this could be football’s version of Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift at the VMA’s!
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