Sport
Benzema Defends Vinicius and Questions Rodri’s Ballon d’Or Win
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.
Chelsea suffers a major blow to the team just before their Premier League match with Tottenham on Thursday. It was reported that player Romeo Lavia recently sustained an injury.
Chelsea Manager Enzo Maresca informs the public of the player’s recently sustained injury. He then confirms Lavia’s absence in the Spurs happening this Thursday at Stanford Bridge.
In a brief interview with the press, the Chelsea manager shared the update and information concerning Lavia. “He was doing better in terms of progress but unfortunately, one or two days ago he had a small problem, so we will see in the next hours.”
Chelsea have been dealt a fresh injury setback ahead of their Premier League clash with Tottenham on Thursday.
Midfielder Romeo Lavia has suffered another injury, ruling him out of the game at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca confirmed that the 21-year-old picked up a setback during training just days before the match.
“He was making progress, but unfortunately, he had a small issue recently. We’ll have to assess him in the coming hours,” Maresca said.
Lavia, who joined Chelsea from Southampton in 2023, has struggled with injuries since arriving at the club, limiting his playing time.
Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago are set to compete in the Unity Cup, an invitational tournament taking place in London this May.
Jamaica’s Reggae Boys will go head-to-head with Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors in the first semi-final on Tuesday, May 27. The following day, Wednesday, May 28, will see West African giants Nigeria and Ghana battle it out in the second semi-final.
The tournament will wrap up on Saturday, May 31, with the third-place match and the highly anticipated final, where the champions will claim the Unity Cup 2025.
In addition to the tournament, Nigeria has a friendly lined up against Russia in June as part of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Super Eagles will be gearing up for crucial clashes against Rwanda and South Africa in September.
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