A West Ham star has risked upsetting one of his teammates by wading into the Ballon d’Or row over Man City’s Rodri.
After two decades of dominance by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the Ballon d’Or is back in the Premier League.
Not without a great deal of controversy, though.
Now one West Ham star has had his say on the prestigious title going to Manchester City ace Rodri.
West Ham and Man City have had their fair share of brilliant players down the years.
The Hammers actually had a player in the mix for a top 10 Ballon d’Or nomination when Dimitri Payet was ripping it up in the claret and blue and with France.
West Ham don’t have too much to do with an award that’s the preserve of the game’s elite – like Manchester City.
Controversy swirls around Man City star’s Ballon d’Or win
But one of Hammers player has spoken out about it in the wake of controversy over Man City star Rodri winning it ahead of Vinicius Junior.
West Ham star Tomas Soucek has risked upsetting a teammate by wading into Ballon d’Or row over Man City’s Rodri.
Real Madrid decided to snub the awards last night after they were told Vini Jr and none of their other hopefuls were going to win.
Vini Junior is best friends with West Ham star Lucas Paqueta, who had been a target for Man City before the spot-fixing case against him collapsed the move.
The pair are childhood friends and are inseparable on Brazil duty and in the off-season.
West Ham star risks upsetting teammate in Ballon d’Or row
When Paqueta was ruled out for two months through injury earlier this year he did some of his recovery at Vini Junior’s house.
When Man City ace Rodri was confirmed as the winner, Vinicius posted on X: “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
But Hammers star Soucek risks upsetting Paqueta by making it emphatically clear he thinks Rodri deserved the Ballon d’Or ahead of Vini Jr.
Soucek has taken to his Instagram Stories in support of the Man City star he’s faced on many occasions.
The Czech midfielder posted a picture of Rodri with the Ballon d’Or trophy with “100%” and a thumbs up over the top.
Soucek says Rodri “100%” deserves Ballon d’Or
Rodri, the first Premier League-based winner since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, showed class when asked about Real Madrid refusing to attend.
“It is their decision,” the Man City man said.
“They have decided not to come and we have to accept that. I am focusing on my club. I will go and celebrate this award with them.”
Because Soucek has played against Rodri on many occasions, he appreciates just how good the Spaniard is.
His emphatic post won’t go unnoticed by Paqueta given his tight friendship with Vini Junior.
The Ballon d’Or has no doubt been the subject of much debate in the West Ham training ground.
The outrage over Rodri from the Real Madrid camp has not painted the historic club in a very good light, though.
Fair play to Soucek for being his own man and making it clear what he thinks.
The last 31 Ballon d’Or winners:
2024 – Rodri
2023 – Lionel Messi
2022 – Karim Benzema
2021 – Lionel Messi
2020 – Award canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 – Lionel Messi
2018 – Luka Modrić
2017 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2015 – Lionel Messi
2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2012 – Lionel Messi
2011 – Lionel Messi
2010 – Lionel Messi
2009 – Lionel Messi
2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2007 – Kaká
2006 – Fabio Cannavaro
2005 – Ronaldinho
2004 – Andriy Shevchenko
2003 – Pavel Nedvěd
2002 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
2001 – Michael Owen
2000 – Luís Figo
1999 – Rivaldo
1998 – Zinedine Zidane
1997 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
1996 – Matthias Sammer
1995 – George Weah
1994 – Hristo Stoichkov
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