Namibian journalist Sheefeni Nicodemus, who was among the voters for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, has fired back at Florentino Pérez following the Real Madrid president's criticism of the award’s voting system. Nicodemus, one of the few journalists who excluded Vinícius Jr. from his top ten, addressed Pérez's remarks made during Real Madrid’s General Assembly.

Florentino Pérez Questions the Ballon d’Or Voting System

During his speech, Pérez openly criticized the Ballon d’Or voting process, suggesting that votes from smaller countries like Namibia had disproportionately influenced the final result. Rodri of Manchester City won the award, beating Vinícius Jr., who was seen by many as a favorite. Pérez claimed that without the votes from journalists in countries such as Uganda, Albania, and Namibia, Vinícius would have won.

He further argued that the voting should be limited to "recognized individuals whose reputations are on the line with their choices," drawing applause and laughter from the assembly. Pérez also defended Real Madrid’s decision to boycott the ceremony, describing it as a protest against what he considered an unfair system.

Nicodemus’s Strong Response

Nicodemus didn’t hold back in his response, speaking on the Spanish radio show El Larguero. He described Pérez as "a frustrated man" and defended the inclusion of journalists from smaller nations in the voting process.

"Frankly, I suspect these are just the words of someone who is frustrated, like Mr. Pérez," Nicodemus remarked. "He seems to think that people from my country and others mentioned have no meaningful vote because he considers us inferior. I’d like to know—if I were from a major footballing nation and disagreed with his opinion, what would his argument be then?"

The Controversial Ballot of Nicodemus

Nicodemus was one of three journalists who left Vinícius Jr. out of their top ten. Instead, he ranked Jude Bellingham as his top choice for the Ballon d’Or, followed by Rodri and Lamine Yamal. This decision has sparked criticism from Real Madrid fans, who believe Vinícius deserved greater recognition for his performances last season.

A Growing Debate

The exchange between Nicodemus and Pérez has reignited the debate over the Ballon d’Or voting system. Should the process be more selective, involving only representatives from major footballing nations? Or does the inclusion of journalists from across the globe reflect the diversity of the sport?

What’s certain is that in a year where Vinícius shone as one of Real Madrid’s standout players, the division in his appraisal raises questions about whether the current system truly rewards the best performers.