In the realm of sports, some moments go beyond the boundaries of the game, moments that leave a lasting impact on not just fans, but on all of humanity. The rise of Chapecoense Football Club was a remarkable and inspiring story of overcoming adversity, with a team and a city coming together in pursuit of a common goal. However, this story took a tragic turn, reminding us that dreams can be fragile and easily shattered by the cruel hand of fate.
You might have heard their name tossed around in football circles, right? They were this amazing underdog story, rising from the lower divisions of Brazilian football to the brink of continental glory. But then, everything took a gut-wrenching turn on that fateful day, November 28th, 2016.
The Fatal Flight
Picture this, the team was buzzing with excitement as they boarded their flight to the Copa Sudamericana final in Medellin. It was supposed to be their moment of triumph, the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. But instead, it turned into a nightmare. "It felt like a nightmare. One moment, we were full of hope and excitement, and the next, everything came crashing down. It's something I'll never forget." - Survivor of the Chapecoense plane crash, Jackson Fullman.
As the plane soared through the sky, alarms started blaring. You can imagine the panic that must've set in as the pilots realized they were running out of fuel. And yet, despite all the warning signs, they kept going. It's like they were playing a game of chicken with fate, and tragically, they lost.
Warnings Ignored
I'm no aviation expert, but even I know that running out of fuel mid-flight is a recipe for disaster. And yet, that's exactly what happened. The pilots' decisions, or their lack of good choices, sealed the fate of everyone on board.
The aftermath was devastating. Lives were lost, dreams were shattered, and a community was left reeling from the shock. But amidst the grief, there were moments of solidarity and compassion that reminded us of the power of humanity. Gareth Bale said: “Absolutely horrendous to hear about the crash carrying Chapecoense My thoughts are with all the families of the passengers and crew!
Solidarity Amidst Sorrow
Atletico Nacional's gesture in calling for Chapecoense to be awarded the Copa Sudamericana title was a shining example of sportsmanship in the face of tragedy. Teams and fans from around the world rallied behind Chapecoense, offering their support and solidarity in their darkest hour.
In the years since the crash, Chapecoense has shown incredible resilience. Led by survivors like Alan Ruschel, they've clawed their way back from the brink, proving that the human spirit is truly unbreakable.
Honoring the Fallen
As we remember the tragedy of Chapecoense, let's also remember the lessons it taught us. Let's never forget the lives that were lost and the families that were forever changed. And let's vow to never let negligence and hubris overshadow the pursuit of safety and humanity, both on and off the field.
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The 2024 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in Paris ended with Manchester City’s defensive midfielder Rodri taking home the prestigious prize, leaving Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior (Vini Jr) as the runner-up.
Many football fans, players, and analysts had pegged Vini as the favourite, especially after his extraordinary contributions to Madrid's La Liga and Champions League double last season.
Rodri’s triumph over Vini Jr has sparked outrage and raised questions about the award’s criteria. Here’s a look at why many feel that Vini Jr was “robbed” of the award he deserved.
🔥Vini Jr’s Exceptional Season🔥:
Vinícius Júnior’s 2023-24 season was nothing short of extraordinary. He was instrumental in Real Madrid’s remarkable campaign, scoring 24 goals and delivering 11 assists across all competitions, leading the team to a La Liga title and a Champions League victory.
Being the star player for a team that managed to secure both a domestic league and a European trophy is no small feat. His ability to influence big games, particularly in high-pressure moments, set him apart.
In contrast, Rodri had a strong season, anchoring Manchester City’s midfield and playing a pivotal role in their Premier League success and that is just about it. While Spain won the Euro 2024, Rodri’s contributions to that triumph cannot be highlighted as key.
The Spaniard played four games before the final and aside from accumulating yellow cards, which rendered him suspended for Spain’s final Group B game against Albania, he scored one goal in a game Spain won 4-1.
Then in the biggest and most important game of the tournament, the final against England, Rodri could only manage to play just 45 minutes due to injury.
This summed up a rather average showing for the Man City midfielder, who was somehow inexplicably adjudged the best player of the tournament ahead of more deserving candidates like teammates, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, and Nico Williams.
While his contributions to City’s Premier League winning season were crucial, his role was more supportive than game-changing and that was made clear in the Premier League Team of the Season Squad released by the Premier League at the end of the 2023/2024 season, where Rodri missed out.
🗣️Outrage from Players, Coaches & Football Fraternity🗣️:
The decision to crown Rodri over Vini has sparked intense backlash on social media. Football fans expressed their outrage on Social Media platform, X, with one X user posting, “Rodri winning this Ballon d’Or is the biggest robbery in football history. Vini has been completely ROBBED.”
Another X user echoed the sentiment, saying, “Vinicius is the real winner and the entire world knows that!” Even players weighed in, with AC Milan’s Rafael Leao subtly sharing his disappointment over the decision by posting an emoji covering its eyes alongside a Vini image.
Retired French Footballer, Frank Ribery posted the words “Ballon d’Or”, along with laughing emojis on his Instagram account. He wasn’t the only one. Players like Sceedorf, Gullit, Benzema, Serge Aurier, and even coaches like Gasperinni of Atlanta.
Many in the football community see this result as an injustice, claiming that Vini Jr’s electrifying impact on the field was overlooked in favor of Rodri’s more subdued but steady contributions.
🤷♂️The Jorginho & Luka Modric Cases: A Shift in Ballon d’Or Criteria?🤷♂️
In 2020, Chelsea and Italy defensive midfielder, Jorginho, had a stellar club season that was crowned with lifting the UEFA Champions League when his Chelsea side beat Man City in the final. Then he went on to lift the UEFA Euros with Italy that same season, and unlike Rodri he played all the games.
Jorginho was named the UEFA Best Player of the Season unlike Rodri, who missed out on that accolade and for good reason. He was neither the best player in the UEFA Champions League nor the UEFA Euros, although he won that last one shockingly.
Now was it a surprise that Jorginho did not go on to lift the Ballon d’Or that year? No, it wasn’t, because while Jroginho’s Chelsea lifted the UCL and his Italy lifted the Euros, he wasn’t the Best Player for either Chelsea or Italy.
Aside from that, his Chelsea had a bad league season and he wasn’t particularly a standout for them in the league, so the world understood when Bayern’s Lewandoski at the time, lifted the FIFA Best Player for his Golden Boot winning 43 goals in that season, which broke Gerd Muller’s 39-year long record for the most goals in a season by a Bundesliga player.
So the question is if Jorginho was not named the Ballon d’Or winner or FIFA Best Player that year for all his exploits in UEFA Competitions and not just one (the Euros), why was Rodri?
Some believe Luka Modric’s Ballon d’Or win in 2018 should justify Rodri’s but it could never because, unlike Rodri, Luka won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (Best Player) after leading his Croatia to the final of the FIFA World Cup in a season he won the UEFA Player of the Season after lifting the Champions League with Real Madrid.
So really the question is did Vini Jr lose the Ballon d’Or because he scored only two goals in two games for Brazil in the Copa America, or because got into altercations with opponent players who provoked him like a human being?
🔗You can check out & follow Vini Jr’s Real Madrid & Rodri’s Man City games here on MSport.