Rodri’s Bold Celebration Sparks Drama with Vinicius Jr After Ballon d’Or Victory
Rodri didn’t hold back in his celebrations after clinching the 2024 Ballon d’Or on Monday, defeating rivals Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal. The Manchester City star’s victory stirred up emotions at Real Madrid, who anticipated that their Brazilian superstar, Vinicius, would take home the honor.
In response to Vinicius’ second-place finish, Real Madrid made a statement by boycotting the event, standing by their standout winger. Meanwhile, Rodri proudly took the stage as the first Manchester City player to ever win the Ballon d’Or, adding a bit of extra spice to his victory speech with what fans perceived as a subtle dig at Real Madrid.
But the real buzz ignited later at a private post-ceremony dinner. Rodri launched into a playful chant aimed directly at Vinicius Jr, singing, “Vini ciao, Vini ciao, ciao, ciao!” A nod to the famous Italian song, his choice of lyrics didn’t go unnoticed, sparking a wave of reactions online. Manchester City posted the celebration clip on social media, but the video quickly vanished—though not before it became the talk of fans everywhere.
The rivalry between the players adds even more intrigue, as Vinicius narrowly missed out on the award despite scoring 24 goals across all competitions last season—a fact that hasn’t escaped the attention of Madridistas.
Meanwhile, City manager Pep Guardiola shared his pride and admiration for Rodri’s accomplishment. He praised the Euro 2024 winner, saying, “First of all, of course congratulations to him and all his family and friends. It’s incredible news for him and, of course, for all of us, all at City and our fans. We’re so proud of him. It’s the first time.”
Reflecting on City’s historic achievement, Guardiola added, “We could never have imagined years ago that one player would receive this prestigious award. We are so delighted to be part of it and to share it with him. Yes, hopefully it can give him energy to recover well for next season and be with us again.”
In just one night, Rodri made history, sent Madrid reeling, and fueled the rivalry even further—a celebration fans won’t soon forget.
