Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, has openly criticized journalists from four specific countries for their complete disregard for Vinicius Junior in the 2024 Ballon d’Or voting process.
Recall that Manchester City and Spain international, Rodri, won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, which took place in Paris in October, a decision that sparked significant controversy within the football community.
The outcome of the voting has polarized opinions, with many football fans and analysts questioning how a talented player like Vinicius could be overlooked in favour of Rodri.
Perez, in quotes carried by Tuttosport, highlighted the shocking lack of support for Vinicius, pointing out that journalists from Namibia, Uganda, Albania, and Finland did not cast a single vote for the Brazilian forward throughout the entire voting process.
He expressed his frustration by stating, “If the journalists from Namibia, Uganda, Albania, and Finland had not voted, Vinicius would be the Ballon d’Or winner.” Perez went further to note that not even one vote was allocated to Vinicius from these nations.
The Spanish football administrator acknowledged that the Finnish journalist who didn’t allocate any vote to Vinicius has already resigned from the voting panel, expressing gratitude for his decision.
“Look, I appreciate it,” Perez remarked, emphasizing the importance of accountability in the voting process for such a prestigious award.
