Manchester City fans had their fun at the Etihad, reminding Vinicius Jr of his Ballon d’Or heartbreak—and even Rodri approved.
During City’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid, the home fans unveiled a savage banner featuring Rodri kissing the Ballon d’Or, with the message: “Stop Crying Your Heart Out.” If that wasn’t enough, they taunted Vinicius with chants of “Where’s your Ballon d’Or?”
The Madrid winger, who lost out to Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d’Or race, tried to act unfazed, pointing to the 15 Champions League badge on his sleeve. But let’s be real—that’s a weak comeback when you’ve just been reminded of a personal L.
Rodri’s Cold Response: “Very Good”
Rodri, currently sidelined with an ACL injury, watched the game from the stands. When asked about the banner by El Chiringuito, his response was short, sharp, and brutally effective:
“Very good.”
No explanations. No apologies. Just cold approval. And honestly, he had every right to back it.
Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win wasn’t luck—it was a reward for bossing midfield battles and guiding City to a historic treble-winning season. If Vinicius had a problem with it, he should’ve done more last year.
City Unlucky, But Still in Control
Yes, Madrid scraped a 3-2 win—but let’s not pretend they dominated. City were in control for most of the match, with Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden pulling the strings. Even without Rodri on the pitch, Pep Guardiola’s side looked the better team for large stretches of the game.
The key difference? Madrid got lucky with their finishing. But luck runs out, and the second leg at the Bernabeu is far from a foregone conclusion.
Vinicius’ Ballon d’Or Dreams? Good Luck With That
If Vinicius thinks he’s getting the 2025 Ballon d’Or over a fully fit Rodri, Erling Haaland, or even Phil Foden, he’s in for another reality check. His numbers are nowhere near what’s needed to edge out the world’s best players—especially when City are still on course for more silverware.
With the second leg looming, Madrid fans shouldn’t get too comfortable. City know exactly what needs to be done, and when Rodri is back, there won’t be any more debates about who the best midfielder in the world is.
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