Neymar hits back at Man City star Rodri after Ballon d'Or drama with fresh Vinicius Jr swipe

Neymar has hit back at comments made by Rodri following his recent Ballon d'Or win - and the supposed snub of Vinicius Jr. Manchester City midfield maestro, Rodri, got his hands on the Ballon d'Or this year, despite widespread predictions that Vinicius Jr would take home the prestigious award.

Following the leak that Vinicius Jr wouldn't be crowned as the world's best footballer, Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony, with no players or their manager in attendance. Rodri, a vital player in Spain's Euro 2024 victory and key to City's Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup triumphs, took the opportunity to offer some advice to Vinicius Jr.

Speaking to Cadena SER, he 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." Rodri added: "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."

However, Neymar didn't take kindly to Rodri's words, responding via social media. The Brazilian star reposted a quote on Instagram account @futeousadia which read: "Virou falador agora", translating to: "He became a talker now," as per reports from The Manchester Evening News.

The ex-Barcelona forward was clear in his verdict that Vinicius Jr should have won the award. The winger played a crucial role in Real Madrid's treble victory last season, netting 24 goals across all competitions, as well as providing 11 assists.

In the 34 Premier League matches Rodri featured in for City last season, they didn't lose a single one. For the 2025 award Vinicius Jr won't have to compete with the Spanish midfielder, though. Rodri will be sidelined for the season due to a cruciate ligament injury in his right knee.