Karim Benzema s’ was expressed two days after Rodri’s victory at the Ballon d’Or, narrowly won in front of Vinicius Junior, his former teammate.
Vinicius, a big favourite to succeed Lionel Messi at the Ballon d’Or 2024, was very disappointed after losing first place at the last moment against Rodri, the Spanish midfielder from Manchester City. After being seen as the likely winner for weeks, the Brazilian star didn’t even attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, also chose to skip the event, suspecting his player wouldn’t take home the prestigious award.It was sad. It’s understandable,” remarked Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, discussing the disappointment for his teammate.
Vinicius is a player who gives everything, not just scoring goals. Last season, when Real won the Champions League, he was decisive in every game. So, I don’t think there’s anyone more deserving of this award than him.
I have nothing against Rodri, who’s a good player, but from my couch watching TV, Rodri never impressed me to the point of saying, ‘Wow,’ while Vinicius did that more than once.
It’s sad, and I’m really sorry for Vinicius; he deserved this Ballon d’Or,” Benzema shared on the show *El Chiringuito*.Benzema also touched on Vinicius’ mindset after the outcome: “I hope he’s strong mentally.
I’ve spoken with Vinicius, and he’s resilient enough to bounce back and keep working. Someday, he’ll get there. Vinicius is a good person; he’ll work hard and eventually win the Ballon d’Or.
I sent him a message, and yes, he was sad. It’s understandable. It’s tough when everyone sees you as the Ballon d’Or winner, only to find out at the last minute it’s not yours. It’s really hard.
