The 2024 Ballon d'Or controversy is still a topic of debate, especially with the surprise victory of Rodri over the man many thought was the favourite, Vinicius Jr. This situation has generated mixed reactions, especially among Real Madrid fans, who decided not to attend the ceremony in protest at the snub of the Brazilian.

Despite the fact that other players such as Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Dani Carvajal were included in the top 10, the club decided not to send any representatives to the event, which intensified criticism of the awards.

Lalas against Real Madrid boycott

In the midst of this controversy, Alexi Lalas, a former USMNT player, was adamant in his defense of the Ballon d'Or decision. Lalas dismissed the notion of a "boycott" by Real Madrid, commenting that he saw no reason to consider the club's reaction as an attack on the award.

"I don't think there's controversy. I don't think anybody's boycotting this at all," he commented on the latest episode of his podcast *State of the Union*.

He said that the Ballon d'Or has always been dominated by offensive players, as goals are what define the best, and argued that Rodri's victory was justified. He also disagreed with those who suggested that the voting was influenced by political interests, and criticised Real Madrid's reaction, calling it "weak".

"Rodri is just a momentary clean-up that's needed, a nod to the less attractive players," he commented.

New State of the Union pod talking Weston/Weah, Emma, Ballon d’Or, MLS Cupsets, Halloween costumes, Wrexham pushback, manager DNA, Zoro, MLS season change, Poltergeist, & more. 🇺🇸⚽️🎃 ⁦@SOTUWithAlexi⁩ https://t.co/3Hn3mNbI7Y

— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) October 31, 2024

Lalas believes people should pay more attention to other awards

Instead of following the debate over the men's Ballon d'Or, Lalas decided to focus his attention on the women's award, praising Emma Hayes for her victory in the Johan Cruyff award for best coach of the year.

Hayes, who has achieved significant success with Chelsea and the US women's national team, was recognised for her leadership, which Lalas considered fully deserved. This victory was also seen as a triumph for US women's soccer, highlighting Hayes' role as one of the most influential figures in the sport.

"Well deserved for what she has done, certainly, during that period and throughout her career. It was one of the reasons why she was hired, because she is the best, and fortunately, from the US perspective, we have our women leaders," Lalas concluded.

This contrast between the controversy over the men's Ballon d'Or and the recognition of Emma Hayes reflects two very different perspectives within the world of football, with Lalas firmly aligning himself with the appreciation of talent, both in men and women, and defending fairness in awarding.