- The decision to grant Rodri the Ball of Or 2025 was for strong criticism
- Real Madrid boycotó the event after Vinicius Jr was not appointed the winner
- Listen now: Everything is starting! Why Eddie Howe is the 'best coach of his generation'
Kylian Mbappe has broken his silence for the decision to give Rodri the Golden Ball on Vinicius JR, who for many was the overwhelming favorite last year.
The Ballon d'Or is given the best player during the calendar year, as voted by journalists and publications around the world, with Lionel Messi winning an eight -gong record.
Although it is intended to celebrate a player's feats for 12 months, it often ends up being awarded a player who has stood out in at least an important tournament.
For example, Rodri won the European Championship 2024 with Spain, the Premier League with Man City and the Club World Cup.
However, with Vinicius and Real Madrid winning the Champions and LaLiga League, it was the big favorite, only to be rejected by Rodri, a decision that saw Real Madrid boycotting the event and not sending anyone to collect their team award.
As such, the Royal Vinicius teammate was asked in Madrid Mbappe about the Golden Ball An exclusive interview with the ParisianAnd he revealed what he did of Rodri winning the prize.
Kylian Mbappe has finally talked about the controversial Ball Award from Or a Rodri
The Spanish midfielder stood out for Man City before winning the European Championship 2024
Many believed that Vinicius Jr should have been appointed winner after winning LaLiga and the Champions League in 2023-24
'What is a ballon player d'Or? Rodri, do you think a player is a ball? I thought the ballon would go to Vinicius, but in the end he went to Rodri. If I had told you three months before, you would have said: “What the hell are you talking about?” He said.
“Today we do not know who is going to go the ballon d'Or, except that no one should be excluded, that all players can be awarded, maybe even a goalkeeper,” he added.
A goalkeeper has not won the award from Lev Yashin in 1963, and has been dominated by strikers or extremes in the last two decades.
Since 2025, only five non -front players have won the prize; Pavel Nedved (2003), Fabio Cannavaro (2006), Kaka (2007), Luka Modric (2018) and Rodri (2025).
It was thought that Mohamed Salah had been one of the main ones for the award this year, however, with Liverpool out of the Champions League, and the Africa Nations Cup that takes place two months after the ball of Or, its possibilities could be thin.
Real Madrid is starring Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Mbappe himself will probably be there if his team can obtain the Champions and LaLiga League, although Raphina de Barcelona has been in an exceptional way and also has an opportunity in both competitions.
Harry Kane will also have a good shout after another amazing season with Bayern Munich and Ousmane Dembele has been one of the most lethal strikers in Europe, however, it will probably depend on the result of the Champions League.
