“Rodri saved football” - Brother of Barcelona star aims dig at Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr over 2024 Ballon d'Or snub

Carlos Olmo, the brother of Barcelona playmaker Dani Olmo, has aimed a dig at Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr for missing out on the 2024 Ballon d'Or. The coveted award went to Manchester City talisman Rodri, instead, which led to Los Blancos' disappointment and anger.

Ahead of the award ceremony, the club learned that Vinicius Jr would not be the winner. They canceled their trip to Paris, with no contingent from the club showing up at the gala.

Rodri was eventually announced as the winner while Vinicius Jr and teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal came second, third, and fourth, respectively.

The furore around the Ballon d'Or, which took place in October, eventually died down. However, Dani Olmo's brother Carlos has stoked the flames once more. He shared a compilation of Vinicius Jr's fouls, aggressive tackles, pushes, protests, and other gestures on Instagram with the caption:

"Rodri really saved football."

Vinicius Jr was one of the favorites to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or after the impressive season he enjoyed with Real Madrid. The forward scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions, scoring crucial goals in the most important games. He also won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

However, the award went to Rodri, who was a vital cog in Manchester City's run to their fourth consecutive Premier League title. The defensive midfielder played 50 games, scoring nine goals and creating 14 assists. He won the Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup with City while clinching Euro 2024 with Spain.

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I cannot respect the decision: Rodri's statement to Real Madrid after winning Ballon d'Or

Manchester City talisman Rodri opened up about beating Vinicius Jr to the Ballon d'Or award, raising questions about Real Madrid's decision to snub the event. The defensive midfielder said on The Rest is Football podcast (via Eurosport):

"I cannot respect the decision. In sport and in life, it's important to win. But I think even more how to lose, and I say always the same - it was my moment, I didn't want to speak about others."

After speaking about Real Madrid, he shared his delight in winning the award:

"They didn't want to be there - I want to be with my club, with my family, the people that were there and clapped me, and that was a fantastic moment. I have lived the best and worst part of my career with the Ballon d'Or and then injury, but it gives me oxygen to come back again in a good way."

Rodri endured an anterior cruciate ligament injury on September 22 when Arsenal and Manchester City drew 2-2 in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium. He has yet to return from the injury, which could keep him out for much of the season.