Zinedine Zidane Criticizes Ballon d’Or, Supports Vinicius

Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has voiced his thoughts on the Ballon d’Or after Manchester City’s Rodri was awarded the award ahead of Vinicius Jr.

Zinedine Zidane expressed concerns about the award’s credibility, referencing a significant moment in 2018 when Cristiano Ronaldo did not win despite his impressive performance.

The 2018 decision to award Luka Modric, who had scored four goals in 81 appearances, over Ronaldo, who netted 65 goals in 75 matches, sparked considerable debate about the award’s evaluation criteria.

In an interview with DAZN, Zidane showcased his strong support for Vinicius Jr., saying, “When assessing performance throughout the season, Vinicius Jr. truly stood out. He deserves recognition for his hard work and talent.”

He further explained that “The winner may not always reflect true merit. The award lost some credibility when Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t win in 2018.”

Note that Zidane was a recipient of the Ballon d’Or in 1998 during his time at Juventus, which led to his signing with Real Madrid.

Historically, critics have pointed out inconsistencies in the selection process for individual awards. For instance, former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Jerome Rothen challenged the Ballon d’Or decision when Lionel Messi received the 2023 award over Erling Haaland. Rothen stated, “It’s important to examine the criteria for evaluating players. Haaland’s achievements at Manchester City were remarkable during that period.”