Pep Guardiola makes Erling Haaland point after Real Madrid boycott Man City win

Pep Guardiola said that Vinicius Jr would have been a deserving winner of the Ballon d'Or but spoke with pride about Rodri winning the award.

The Manchester City midfielder was crowned the best player in the world at the annual bash in Paris, a year after Erling Haaland narrowly lost out to Lionel Messi. However, there was no delegation from Real Madrid present after word spread that Vinicius had lost out to Rodri for the main event.

Real had attracted scorn and mockery for their stance, and while Guardiola did not join the pile-on he did mention how graciously Haaland took his defeat last year - one that was far more illogical than Vinicius Jr losing out. Guardiola has never placed too much stock in individual awards but has praised his players for being placed in the conversation.

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"Of course, if [VInicius] had won it would be more than well deserved - like last season when Erling was there and didn't win and congratulated Leo," he said. "I said to Erling, let's try next season to be there again'. Erling was fifth this year and that is magnificent."

Guardiola said he was not going to judge Real's decision to boycott the awards ceremony and dismiss the legitimacy of the prize awarded. Instead, the City boss praised the voting process and the way Rodri accepted his honour.

"Nothing to say. If they want to go, fine. If they don't, fine," he said. "We are not here to judge what other clubs decide what they have to do. Last season for us Erling won the Treble, scored more than 50 goals and I said to him even being there you have to be happy.

"You have to be