To think he's been in the starting team for over a decade, and starting each Champions League final win since. Says a lot. Also reminds me that we signed Modric as a 27/8 year old. Who would have thought he would be here 10 years later.
Carvajal needs to get his flowers now….very underrated. Winner of 6 CLs as a starter + now Euro. He’s firmly in the Cafu, Thuram, Zanetti tier of right backs.
Not sure if there is a better two way RB in all of football history TBH. Really happy that he’s been able to stay fit and have a rejuvenation this past season when he looked pretty much cooked as a player.
The position doesn't really lend itself to an individual award because it has a narrow scope of influence.
Now the clown show begins. First of all, congratulations to all our Spanish Madridistas. You deserved this trophy. Consistently the best team. Commiserations to our English Madridistas. You played really well and gave us a great finale. One to remember. Now, we're going to be hearing every name under the sun be mentioned as a ballon d'Or candidate in the next few months. People are already saying Rodri deserves it. I know I'm biassed, but if a Madridista doesn't win it we riot. Jude has been underwhelming overall during this tournament with moments of brilliance. He did make it to the final, so how do you not consider him. Vini fell off in the pecking order. Marvellous club season with a humble early copa exit. Carvajal, Nacho and Joselu won LaLiga+CL+Euro. Out of those three only Carvajal has been consistently world class - but he's a defender... Rodri had a great season, he lost out on the CL because of us but won everything else and is one of those irreplaceable players atm... We need one of these to REALLY turn it up before the ballon d'Or BS starts for anyone to be considered clear winner in my opinion. If you ask me I'd still give it to Vini. But at the moment he is not a favourite in most people's books.
The award is supposed to be given to the best player from August 2023 to July 2024. What happens between now and October (the ceremony) should be irrelevant. I still think Vinicius will win.
The argument is that City ran away with the title, got beat by Madrid by the narrowest of margins then Spain won the euro, in spectacular fashion. Vinicius probably deserves it but there is a Rodri angle to the story. I think we have a year where there isn't a tome setting player in the sport, just different guys achieving different things.
City didn't run away with the league title. They were one slip up from losing it. They lost the Fa Cup final to their rivals. Lost in the Community Shield against Arsenal and lost in the league Cup. Also lost in the CL with Vini being better than him and all his teammates. Rodri does not have a claim. It should be all RM players on the balon dor podium. They are trying for a late balon d'or push for Rodri when he doesn't deserve it. Rodri wasn't even the best midfielder for Spain nevermind best player. It's pathetic how he's even in the conversation
Funny if the Euros was held at the beginning of the year, and the UCL had just finished, not many people would be batting an eye if Vini and Jude would be nos. 1 & 2 for the BDO. I find it intruiging on how many people suffer from recency bias.
QUOTE="arcane, post: 42394127, member: 67294"]Funny if the Euros was held at the beginning of the year, and the UCL had just finished, not many people would be batting an eye if Vini and Jude would be nos. 1 & 2 for the BDO. I find it intruiging on how many people suffer from recency bias.[/QUOTE] Dani has more claim to the balon d'or than Rodri. Was instrumental in our league and CL win scoring the first goal in the final and was instrumental in Spain winning the Euro. The push for Rodri is absolutely hilarious. Even making him the Euro player of the tournament when he didn't even deserve it
The fullback simply doesn't have as much influence on the game as other positions. You're far more likely to win with an elite central midfield player and an average fullback than an elite fullback and an average central midfield. Same reason goalkeepers rarely win those awards. Circle of influence is just too small
The English media is disgustingly trying really really hard with mental gymnastics to push this agenda tho.
True. But we have to admit Dani has been the most consistent performer by far across the board. If there was a brilliant season by an attacker like prime Ronaldinho, Kaka, Zidane, CR7 or Messi, this wouldn't been an issue. But all of Vini, Jude and Rodri have gaping holes in their season. Not saying he should win, but he should have a seat at the table. He is a La Liga, UCL (winning goal scorer) and European champion after all as the best two-way fullback in the world.