Vincent Garcia's Ballon d’Or comment

Vincent Garcia, head of France Football, stated after the Ballon d’Or ceremony that he would not reveal his vote immediately, as all votes would be published in the magazine on Saturday. He explained that he wanted to ensure the judges followed the same rule of keeping their votes confidential until the official release.

Other voters revealed their choices

Following the Ballon d’Or announcement, several voters from different countries, including Colombia, Kosovo, Vietnam, Romania, Belarus, Ecuador, and Croatia, shared their votes. This led to significant criticism, especially concerning the players they selected for top positions.

Zdravko Reic's controversial ranking

Zdravko Reic, a Croatian journalist and long-time Ballon d’Or voter, ranked Rodri first, ahead of Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi. While Kylian Mbappé made the Top 5, Harry Kane was sixth, and Lamine Yamal was not even in Reic’s Top 10, despite Ferran Torres and Pau Cubarsi being included.

Fan reactions to Yamal's exclusion

The absence of Lamine Yamal from Reic’s Top 10 sparked strong reactions among fans, with some calling it a scandal and demanding Reic’s removal as a voter. Critics argued that Yamal’s contributions to Spain’s success were significant and deserved recognition.

Reic defends his vote

Zdravko Reic, who has voted in the Ballon d’Or since 1992, admitted he made a mistake by ranking Harry Kane so low. He cited World Cup performances as the key factor in his decision, stating that Rodri was the best player at the tournament and that Yamal’s role in Spain’s victories was relatively minor compared to the World Cup’s importance.