Lothar Matthaus, former Ballon d’Or winner, believes one player stands out above Vinicius Jr. for this year’s award, highlighting their leadership as a key factor.
Newsonline Nigeria reports that Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has claimed that Manchester City star Rodri is more deserving of the 2024 Ballon d’Or than Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.
Matthaus praised Rodri for his leadership, crediting the Spanish midfielder as a key figure behind Spain’s Euro 2024 victory and Manchester City’s Premier League triumph.
With the 2024 Ballon d’Or set to be awarded in October, both Vinicius and Rodri remain strong contenders for football’s most prestigious individual prize.
Speaking to Bild about the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Lothar Matthaus highlighted the tendency for goal-scorers to receive more attention in such awards. He acknowledged Vinicius Jr.’s success, noting that his Champions League and La Liga titles with Real Madrid make a case for the honor.
However, Matthaus ranked Vinicius only third on his list of the year’s top footballers. In his view, Rodri is more deserving of the award, crediting the Manchester City midfielder for being the driving force behind Spain’s Euro 2024 victory and City’s Premier League win.
“These two titles were achieved largely due to Rodri’s exceptional performances, making him my standout player of the year,” Matthaus concluded.
