A Real Madrid player has expressed frustration after being excluded from the 2024 Ballon d'Or nominations. Last week, France Football announced the final list of 30 candidates for the prestigious award, with some high-profile omissions, including eight-time winner Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, marking the first time since 2003 that neither has been shortlisted.
Top contenders such as Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe headlined the nominees, while notable players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool also missed out.
Among the overlooked talents is Real Madrid and Brazil forward Rodrygo, despite his solid season, where he netted 10 goals and provided 5 assists in 34 La Liga matches. However, his Real Madrid teammates Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos, Antonio Rudiger, and Dani Carvajal all made the list.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Rodrygo openly expressed his disappointment: "I was upset; I felt I had earned a place. No disrespect to the players who were nominated, but I believe I deserved to be in the final 30. It caught me off guard… But I don’t control these decisions.”
Rodrygo also mentioned sharing a sarcastic post about his exclusion and appreciated the support he's received from his Brazil national team and Real Madrid.
Despite the snub, Rodrygo delivered a key performance over the weekend, scoring the winning goal in Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Ecuador. Reflecting on his international form, he said, “I’ve scored some important goals for Brazil, and I’m aiming for more. I know my potential and what I can achieve. I’m still early in my career, and with the help of my teammates, I hope to continue growing.”
The winner of the 2024 Ballon d'Or will be announced on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.