Following his role in helping Real Madrid win both the La Liga and the Champions League last season, Rodrygo told ESPN he was “upset” to not be included on this week’s men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist.
Rodrygo was left off the 30-man list, which included fellow club teammates Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos (who is now retired), Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, and Kylian Mbappé, the summer acquisition of Real Madrid.
In an exclusive interview with ESPN on Sunday, Rodrygo said, “I was upset; I think I deserved it.”
The player explained that he believed he had a place in the 30. I don’t mean to disparage the other players. It caught me off guard. However, I’m not the one making these decisions, so there’s not much I can do, he added.
Rodrygo netted five goals in the Champions League and tallied 10 goals in 34 La Liga games the previous season. Against Ecuador this past weekend, Brazil won 1-0 thanks to the forward’s game-winning goal.
“Often, I’m just filling spaces,” he said, speculating as to why he might not have received a nomination. Is someone missing there? Put Rodrygo in. Is someone missing on the right? Rodrygo. Is someone missing as number nine? Rodrygo. That’s it. “It may get in my way a little, but I’m a team player.”
Based on the player’s overall season performance, the nominations are determined by a committee comprising France Football’s editorial staff and selected members of the media.
France Football revealed the top 30 candidates for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award last week, with the winner’s unveiling scheduled to be held on October 28 at a ceremony in Paris.
The only African player to make the 2024 Ballon d’Or men’s nomination list is Ademola Lookman of Nigeria’s Super Eagles. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced on Wednesday that the Italian player from Atalanta and 29 other players were on the shortlist for the coveted award.
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images
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