Al-Ittihad striker Karim Benzema believes Vinicius Jr. was the rightful winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Benzema, who has been a mentor to Vinicius during their years at Real Madrid, expressed disappointment that the Brazilian talent didn’t take home the trophy.

In the recent Ballon d’Or results, Vinicius finished as runner-up to Manchester City’s Rodri, who was awarded the prestigious title during a ceremony held in Paris, France.

However, the decision sparked controversy, leading Vinicius and his Real Madrid teammates to skip the event entirely, a silent protest over what they felt was an unjust outcome.

Benzema shared his views on the situation, explaining he had recently spoken with Vinicius, who was understandably disappointed by the result.

“I talked to Vini, and he’s down… which is normal,” Benzema remarked. “He deserved to be recognized as the best.”

The former Real Madrid forward also commented on Rodri’s victory, emphasizing that while he respects the Spanish midfielder, he believes Rodri’s style lacks the electrifying impact Vinicius brings to the game.

Benzema candidly stated, “Rodri is a good player, but I’m watching from home, and there’s nothing in his game that makes you go ‘wow.’”

This year’s Ballon d’Or decision has sparked a wider conversation about how players are evaluated for the prestigious award and whether the voting system accurately reflects the skills and achievements of top talents.