Florentino Pérez Faces Backlash Over Ballon d’Or Criticism
The Ballon d’Or drama just keeps heating up, and this time, it’s Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez who’s in the spotlight. After publicly criticizing a Namibian journalist for not voting for Vinícius Júnior to win the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or, the journalist in question, Sheefeni Nikodemus, has fired back with some strong words of his own. The controversy has sparked a heated debate in the football world, with fans and pundits alike weighing in on the fairness of the voting process.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Last month, Real Madrid made headlines when they boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris. The prestigious award, which is decided by a panel of 100 international journalists, was given to Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri. This decision didn’t sit well with Pérez, who believed the award should have gone to Vinícius Júnior, one of Madrid’s brightest stars. In his speech during Madrid’s AGM on Sunday, Pérez didn’t hold back, calling out journalists from Namibia, Uganda, Albania, and Finland for their votes—or lack thereof—for Vinícius.
“Nobody knows who [the journalists] are,” Pérez said, arguing that the Ballon d’Or should be “independently organised” and voted on by “people who are well-known.” He even went as far as to say that without the votes from those countries, Vinícius would have won the award. Ouch.
Sheefeni Nikodemus Claps Back
But Sheefeni Nikodemus, the Namibian journalist singled out by Pérez, wasn’t about to stay silent. Speaking to Cadena SER’s El Larguero show on Monday, Nikodemus didn’t mince words. “Essentially, I suspect it’s just words from somebody who is frustrated, Mr. Pérez that is,” he said. “If he feels like people from my country, and the other countries mentioned, do not have a significant vote because we are inferior people, I would just like to know, if I was from one of the leading football nations, and I disagreed with his opinion, what would his argument be?”
It’s a fair question, and one that has many people wondering if Pérez’s comments were less about the voting process and more about his frustration over Madrid’s perceived snub. After all, Vinícius was a leading contender for the award, thanks to his stellar performances last season as Madrid clinched both the LaLiga and Champions League titles. However, his underwhelming showing for Brazil at the Copa América may have hurt his chances, especially when compared to Rodri’s standout performances for Spain during their Euro 2024 triumph.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
In the final vote, Rodri finished with 1,170 points, narrowly edging out Vinícius, who earned 1,129 points. Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal rounded out the top four, finishing third and fourth, respectively. The voting process involves journalists ranking their top 10 players from a shortlist, with each player receiving between 15 and 1 points based on their ranking. It’s a system that has been in place for years, but Pérez’s comments have reignited the debate over whether it’s truly the best way to determine the world’s best player.
Madrid’s Boycott and Pérez’s Frustration
When it became clear that Vinícius wouldn’t be taking home the Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid decided to skip the ceremony altogether. This was despite the fact that Carlo Ancelotti was named Coach of the Year and Madrid was recognized as Team of the Year. For Pérez, the snub was personal. “Rodri is a great player, he’s from Madrid, and he has our affection,” Pérez said on Sunday. “He deserved a Ballon d’Or, but not this one. He deserved it the year before. This year, the Ballon d’Or should have gone to a Real Madrid player: Vinícius, or our captain Dani Carvajal, or even Jude Bellingham.”
Pérez also took issue with the fact that some journalists didn’t even include Vinícius in their top 10. “Can anyone understand journalists not thinking Vinícius is one of the best in the world?” he asked. “Without Namibia, Uganda, Albania, and Finland, Vinícius would have won the Ballon d’Or. And those countries didn’t even vote for Vinícius. Not one! The Finn, at least, has resigned.”
What’s Next for the Ballon d’Or?
Pérez’s solution? He believes the Ballon d’Or should be organized independently, with votes cast by “well-known, prestigious people with a reputation in the football world.” It’s a bold suggestion, but one that would likely face significant pushback from those who believe the current system is already as fair as it can be.
For now, the debate rages on. Was Rodri the rightful winner, or was Vinícius robbed? Should the voting process be overhauled, or is Pérez simply venting his frustration? One thing’s for sure: the Ballon d’Or has once again proven to be one of the most controversial awards in sports.
Key Takeaways:
- Rodri won the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or with 1,170 points, narrowly beating Vinícius Júnior, who had 1,129 points.
- Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony, citing dissatisfaction with the voting process.
- Florentino Pérez criticized journalists from Namibia, Uganda, Albania, and Finland for not voting for Vinícius.
- Namibian journalist Sheefeni Nikodemus defended his vote, calling Pérez’s comments “frustrated.”
What do you think? Should the Ballon d’Or voting process be changed, or is this just sour grapes from Real Madrid? Let us know your thoughts!
Originally Written by: Alex Kirkland
