Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo has expressed his disappointment at being left out of the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or.
The 23-year-old starred for Los Blancos as they won LaLiga and the Champions League last season, scoring 17 goals along the way.
His club and Brazil team-mate Vinicius Junior was nominated and is one of the favourites to win the coveted award, as is Jude Bellingham.
And Rodrygo told ESPN that he was upset when he heard the news that he was not even shortlisted.
He said: “I was upset when I saw they didn’t include me in Ballon d’Or nominees.
“I think I deserved it. I don’t want to belittle the players who are there, but I think I had a place.
🚨⚪️ Rodrygo: “I was upset when I saw they didn’t include me in Ballon d’Or nominees”.
“I think I deserved it. I don’t want to belittle the players who are there, but I think I had a place”.
“It was a surprise… but there is not much I can do, I don’t make decisions”. pic.twitter.com/xXL5krebhE
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 9, 2024
“It was a surprise… but there is not much I can do, I don’t make decisions.
“Often, I’m just filling spaces. Is someone missing there? Put Rodrygo in.
“Is someone missing on the right? Rodrygo. Is someone missing as number nine? Rodrygo. That’s it.
“It may get in my way a little, but I’m a team player.”
Rodrygo’s struggle to stand out in a team full of stars may be what has cost him any recognition for the 2024 award.
He has certainly thrived under Carlo Ancelotti and even with the introduction of Kylian Mbappe has managed to prove prolific in the final third.
