Neymar sends scathing five word message as Vinicius Jr's Ballon d'Or feud intensifies
Vinicius was absent from the Ballon d'Or ceremony as Real Madrid boycotted the event over Rodri's triumph and the Spanish midfielder's comments about the Brazilian since haven't gone down well with Neymar
by Oli Gamp · The MirrorNeymar has hit back at Manchester City star Rodri after he told Vinicius Jr to "pay attention" in order to improve as a footballer.
Rodri was named as the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, pipping his rival Vinicius Jr to the prize, leading to uproar from the Real Madrid's fanbase. Many figures in Brazil criticised the decision to award the honour to Rodri after Vinicius netted 24 goals to help Real Madrid win La Liga and the Champions League.
Vinicius and his representatives were absent from the Ballon d'Or ceremony as Real Madrid completely boycotted the event over Rodri's triumph and the Spanish midfielder's comments about the Brazilian since won't have sat well with him.
Rodri said: "I think he's an intelligent guy and he'll realise over time that the more he pays attention to the pitch, the better he'll be. Like everyone, he has areas for improvement both on and off the pitch. He's young, I'm sure that people will give him good advice and even more so when he's at Madrid. It's a club with values."
Now Neymar has bit back at Rodri following his comments, replying to a social media post carrying his quotes and saying: "He became a talker now," along with two emojis of a man putting his hand on his face and two laughing emojis.
Rodri was recognised after superb 12 months saw him win the Champions League with Manchester City and the Euros with Spain. He insisted it was "his moment" after being asked if he was offended by Vinicius' decision not to attend.
"Why would it hurt me?” he said. "It was my moment, to enjoy with my family. The last thing I'd be thinking about is people who weren't there, and didn't want to participate."
Rodri is currently out injured for the season after picking up an ACL injury, while Vinicius is enjoying another impressive season for Real Madrid, scoring 12 times so far.
Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky Sports deal
Sky Sports launches discounted Premier League package
£46 (was £56)
Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.