The Ballon d'Or: Why Rodri and Vinicius Junior Missed Out

City's Rodri Snubbed

Manchester City's Rodri was a surprise omission from the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist. The Spanish midfielder has been a key player for Pep Guardiola's side, helping them win four Premier League titles in the past five seasons. He is also a regular for the Spanish national team.

Some pundits believe that Rodri's omission is due to his lack of attacking output. The midfielder has scored just 17 goals in his career. However, he is a vital part of City's team, and his defensive work is often overlooked.

Guardiola has been vocal in his criticism of the Ballon d'Or, calling it a "popularity contest". He believes that Rodri is a more deserving winner than some of the players who were included on the shortlist.

Vinicius Junior's Missed Opportunity

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior was another player who missed out on the Ballon d'Or shortlist. The Brazilian winger has been in excellent form for Real Madrid this season, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists in all competitions.

Vinicius Junior was a key player in Real Madrid's Champions League triumph last season. He scored the winning goal in the final against Liverpool.

However, despite his impressive performances, Vinicius Junior was not included on the Ballon d'Or shortlist. Some pundits believe that this is due to his lack of experience at the international level. Vinicius Junior has only played 12 times for Brazil.