Manchester City midfielder Rodri has sparked controversy following his Ballon d'Or win on Monday night.
The Spaniard was caught on camera mocking Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during post-ceremony celebrations.
In a now-deleted social media post by Manchester City, Rodri was seen chanting "Vini ciao, Vini ciao, ciao, ciao!" to the tune of "Bella Ciao".
The taunt was aimed at the Brazilian winger, who was widely tipped to win the prestigious award.
Rodri was seen chanting about Vinicius Jr after winning the Ballon d'Or
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This incident has further fuelled the ongoing controversy surrounding Rodri's unexpected triumph over Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid reacted furiously to Vinicius Jr's snub, boycotting the Ballon d'Or ceremony.
The Spanish giants had initially planned to send a delegation of 50 people to Paris.
Sources at Real Madrid told ESPN Brazil that the snub was a "historic robbery".
Marca reported that Madrid insiders declared "the Ballon d'Or no longer exists for us".
In a statement to AFP, Real Madrid said: "If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.
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"As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d'Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected."
Rodri's victory marks a historic moment in football, as he becomes the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or.
The Manchester City star was honoured for his pivotal role in the club's treble-winning season, including their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Rodri was also recognised for his contributions to Spain's European Championship winning side.
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Rodri won the Ballon d'Or ahead of Vinicius Jr
Reuters
Despite being labelled a "humble and kind" player, his unexpected triumph has sparked debate in the football world.
The 27-year-old Spaniard beat out favourites Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham, who finished second and third respectively.
This outcome has led to widespread discussions about the award's criteria and voting process.
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🔥 ¡RODRI SE ACUERDA DE VINICIUS celebrando el BALÓN DE ORO!
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) October 29, 2024
👀 El Manchester City sube... y borra un vídeo del mediocentro festejando su galardón.
‼️ '¡Vini ciao, Vini ciao, ciao, ciao!' pic.twitter.com/HOjd86eQ9K
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola congratulated Rodri on his achievement, expressing pride in the player's success.
"It's incredible news for him and of course for all of us, all at City and our fans. We're so proud of him," Guardiola said.
However, the celebration is bittersweet for City supporters. Rodri, who has been integral to the club's success since joining in 2019, will be unavailable for the remainder of the season.
The midfielder ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during a match against Arsenal, dealing a significant blow to City's campaign.
