Barcelona Legend: Last Year’s Ballon d’Or Should Have Gone to Rodri, This Year It Should Go to Carvajal

Barcelona legend Julio Salinas stated on Thursday that this year’s Ballon d’Or should go to Dani Carvajal, as he has won all competitions and consistently scores crucial goals, performing excellently both for the national team and Real Madrid.

Salinas said, “This weekend’s El Clásico, Real Madrid are the favorites because they are playing at home and they haven’t lost at the Bernabéu in over a year. Of course, Barcelona is also in top form and could have an incredible week.”

“I think this improvement from Barcelona likely comes from confidence. Yesterday, I watched a match against Bayern Munich, and the young players performed outstandingly, maintaining the game’s rhythm in an incredible way. Barcelona has also regained their high pressing in the front, which is very important. And they have many players in great form.”

“The Ballon d’Or this year? In my opinion, it should go to a Spanish player. This award is often manipulated, as it almost always goes to forwards. I believe it should have gone to Rodri last year, as he scored crucial goals in the Champions League final and for the national team, winning everything, but the award went to someone else. I don’t understand why.”

“In the past, it was always said that the Ballon d’Or doesn’t go to Spanish players because they haven’t won anything significant. Now we have won many titles, so this situation should change. If not Rodri, then the award should go to Carvajal this year. He has won all the competitions, scored crucial goals, and performed exceptionally well. If he doesn’t get it, what more does one need to do to win it?”