‘These Awards They Are Unfair...’: Argentina ICON And World Cup Winner On Peculiar Ballon D'Or 2024

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr was the heavy favourite to win the Ballon d'Or in 2024 given he led Real Madrid to their 15th Champions League and 36th La Liga crown. However, on Tuesday  Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has instead won the Ballon d'Or ahead of Vinicius Jr. This news left many football fans fuming as they slammed France Football and UEFA claiming that Ballon d'Or has lost all its credibility. 

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Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez is not happy with his Ballon d’Or 2024 ranking 

Despite a great season marked with successes for both club and nation, Argentina's Lautaro Martinez voiced dismay about his seventh-place finish in the 2024 Ballon d'Or rankings.

Martinez had an incredible 2023–24 season, winning the Copa America trophy with Argentina, the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana with Inter Milan, With 24 goals in Serie A and five in the Copa America, he was individually the best scorer in both. Over 54 club and national games, he scored 35 goals and gave eight assists.

Among his best efforts, Martinez scored Argentina's extra-time winner against Colombia (112th min) in their 1-0 Copa America semifinal triumph and grabbed the Supercoppa Italiana for Inter with a stoppage-time goal (90+1 1st min) to guarantee a 1-0 victory over Napoli.

Lautaro Martinez told DAZN in an interview that he had expected a better Ballon d'Or ranking finish than seventh. According to Fabrizio Romano, he said:

“To be honest, I was expecting more than seventh position at the Ballon d’Or. Sometimes at these awards they are unfair. I’ll be working hard to improve that position.”

While Real Madrid talents Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham locked second and third place respectively, Manchester City's Rodri grabbed the esteemed Ballon d'Or 2024 this year.