Rodri: The New King of Football, with Suspense Until the Final Seconds

The Ballon d'Or winner is none other than the deep-lying playmaker for Manchester City and the Spanish national team!

A Drama of Leaks

The desire to know whose name was in the coveted envelope was so intense that journalists from various outlets tried to get ahead and uncover the winner early, creating a plot twist as thrilling as any detective story.

At first, insiders claimed with certainty that Vinícius Jr. would win the Ballon d'Or. Regardless of personal opinions about him, even his biggest detractors seemed to accept this fact. The Brazilian believed it and had already booked a restaurant in Madrid to celebrate his anticipated triumph.

Real Madrid also prepared for the occasion. But suddenly, other insiders leaked new information, suggesting that the Ballon d'Or would go to the Spaniard, Rodri. Initial leaks were attributed to French media — supposedly as a form of revenge against Real for the Mbappé saga. Yet, even Spanish sources soon confirmed that Vinícius would be left empty-handed.

The Royal Club was shocked; management canceled their trip to Paris, and Vinícius called off his celebration. Shortly before the ceremony, fans noticed that a chartered flight had quickly departed from Madrid to Paris, fueling intrigue even further. People questioned whether they’d really be there, and some posted images of nameplates for Vinícius and Bellingham at the Théâtre du Châtelet. In contrast, others shared pictures of Rodri on crutches. The suspense reached its peak.

It Was Rodri, After All

Once the ceremony started, it became clear that Real Madrid players were not in attendance, validating rumors of their boycott. By this point, Real Madrid had already released a statement.

“If the criteria for the award don’t make Vinícius the winner, then they should have awarded it to Carvajal. Since that didn’t happen, it’s evident that the Ballon d'Or and UEFA don’t respect Real Madrid,” read the statement, as reported by AS.

Real was named Best Men's Club, but it did little to soothe the fans who awaited the final reveal, with growing certainty that Rodri would take home the Ballon d'Or.

And indeed, it happened. The first European Champion in this new era added the prestigious award to his collection.

A New Era

But setting aside the Ballon d'Or winner, it’s essential to note that Monday evening in Paris marked the beginning of a new football era after Messi and Ronaldo. The most relentless force in the universe, time, has dictated that it is now the turn of the next generation, and a new football king was crowned at the grand ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in France's capital.

Winning this prize doesn’t come with a cash award. Still, it significantly boosts a player’s image, inevitably leading to increased sponsorships and global interest.

The Cult of Personality

Owen Laverty, Director of Innovation at Ear to the Ground, a leading sports entertainment marketing agency, shared his thoughts:

"The big unknown in this conversation is whether there’s a commercial effect to winning. We believe it’s impactful, but there hasn’t been a clear way to measure it."

Karim Benzema capitalized on his win by securing a massive contract in the Saudi Pro League, though interest in him quickly faded.

"Today, the cult of personality is stronger than ever,” says Ged Colleyprest, a sports marketing expert. "The Ballon d'Or revival aligns with the social media age, with constant debates over who is the greatest. The award has become one of the primary metrics."

Growing Importance

Messi and Ronaldo undeniably made the Ballon d'Or significant — or at least more so than before. People may mock how the winner seems known well in advance, but as recent hours have shown, things aren’t always as they seem.

In North American sports, the MVP award holds significant significance. Meanwhile, football has not always held the same regard for its top player award. The Argentine and Portuguese star rivalry transformed the Ballon d'Or into an MVP equivalent, drawing popularity among younger fans. And isn’t the next generation precisely where the leaders of the world’s most popular game should focus their attention?

Published by Patrick Jane
29.10.2024