The 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlist was unveiled in a glitzy ceremony on Wednesday evening but one Real Madrid and Br azil star has been left furious after being left out despite a stunning year.
Real Madrid star Rodrygo made his feelings on his brutal Ballon d’Or snub abundantly clear - with a timely Instagram post.
The shortlist for the 2024 award was unveiled on Wednesday evening during a glitzy ceremony. The expected names including Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane are all in the running.
There’s also an array of Real Madrid stars nominated, including Jude Bellingham, Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Jr and even the retired Toni Kroos. But one standout name was missing.
Br azilian wideman Rodrygo has not done enough to earn a place on the list despite a standout season last term. The 23-year-old scored 17 goals and notched nine assists as Real Madrid won La Liga, the Champions League and the Spanish SuperCup.
And Rodrygo pointed to that fact in a particularly pointed message on Instagram. Taking to his story, he shared a number of images of him celebrating with the various trophies he had won throughout the season, with others depicting him in action for Real Madrid. He had also posted a laughing crying emoji.
Despite his recent complaints, Rodrygo previously claimed that his Los Blancos teammate Vinicius Jr is the favourite to claim the gong - but still has ambitions of securing it for himself one day.
Speaking to Globo Esporte earlier this year, he said: "We know that Vini is the main candidate to win it [Ballon d’Or] and I support this decision because he is my teammate." He added: "It [Ballon d’Or] is not something that’s my priority, but it’s something every player dreams of."
Rodrygo has done his chances of a nomination next year no harm at all having started the season in positive form. He scored for Real Madrid on the opening day of the campaign in a 1-1 draw with Mallorca, while he also has an assist to his name.
His club and international teammate Vinicius Jr has already laid down his ambitions of following in the footsteps of his Br azilian idols by winning this year’s Ballon d’Or. He said: "I have Kaká as an example, I have Ronaldo [Nazário] who won the award twice, I have Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, a lot of Br azilian players who have won the Ballon d'Or."
"But without a doubt, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are the ones I'm closest with, who tell me every day that I have to win the Ballon d'Or. I was with Ronaldo just now when I was in Ibiza and trained at his house and he told me: 'Train here a few more days, so you are closer to the Ballon d'Or."
"They are players who did incredible things and to be able to compete for the Ballon d'Or and to win an award that they won, that would be something really incredible."