The Spaniard’s victory was largely due to the support of European journalists; Brazilian supporters theorize that the result is related to issues of prejudice
In the fierce competition for Manchester City, the Spanish midfielder surpassed the Brazilian by a difference of just 41 points. The magazine France Football revealed that the Spaniard accumulated 1,170 points, while Vini added 1,129, for a possible total of 1,485. The announcement was made at a gala event in Paris, but only this week were the details of the votes released (see who voted for who). Rodri’s victory was largely due to the support of European journalists, who had a significant influence on the result.
Of the 99 men’s football judges, 41 represented European countries, and Rodri had an advantage of 560 to 442 points in that region. Vinicius won more points among voters in South America, Africa and Asia/Oceania, but the difference was insufficient to guarantee victory. The voting process was conducted based on criteria such as individual performance, collective achievements, class and fair play. Each judge selected the 10 best players of the season, assigning scores that ranged from 15 to 1, depending on placement. In addition to Rodri and Vinicius, other names appeared at the top, including Jude Bellingham (3rd), Dani Carvajal (4th) and Erling Haaland (5th).
Despite the victory, the absence of Real Madrid representatives at the ceremony generated controversy. The Spanish club reportedly decided to boycott the event after learning that Vinicius would not be the winner. The editor-in-chief of France FootballVincent Garcia, criticized the attitude, considering it “disrespect for the result”.
For some Vinicius supporters, the result is related to issues of prejudice, as the player has actively taken a stance against racism in stadiums. However, the magazine’s editorial maintained that the outcome reflects the established criteria and that Rodri stood out both for his performance at Manchester City and for his good performance in the European Championship, where he contributed to Spain’s title.
See the top 10
Published by Felipe Dantas
*Report produced with the help of AI
