The prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris was mired in controversy last night following a boycott by Real Madrid and Spanish journalists when striker Vinícius Júnior was denied the title.
Empty seats could be seen in the Théâtre du Châtelet auditorium after the decision to award football’s most cherished individual prize to Manchester City midfielder Rodri was leaked in advance.
Although Real Madrid won the title of best men’s club, no one came to receive the award, such was the anger from their sulking camp.
Seats reserved for Ballon d’Or finalists Vinícius Júnior and his teammate Jude Bellingham and others were hastily reallocated and the nameplates removed.
Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior, 24, known as ‘Vini’, defiantly posted on X: ‘I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready for it.’
Although he didn’t show up to collect his Coach of the Year award, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti pointedly mentioned Vinícius Júnior in his ‘acceptance post’ on social media, saying: ‘I want my family, my president, my club thank you. , my players and especially Vini and (defender Dani) Carvajal.’
Real Madrid claimed in a statement that the decision to overlook Vinicius Jnr showed that the organizers and UEFA ‘disrespect’ them.
The prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris was mired in controversy last night after a boycott by Real Madrid and Spanish journalists when striker Vinícius Júnior was denied the title
A hobbling Rodri was crowned the best player in the world at the ceremony in Paris
Real Madrid failed to win the Club of the Year award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony
Vinicius and Jude Bellingham’s front row seats were spotted without name tags
Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri receives the Ballon d’Or award during the 2024 Ballon d’Or France Football awards ceremony at the Theater du Chatelet in Paris on October 28
Vinicius Jr.’s teammate Eduardo Camavinga labeled the decision as ‘football politics’. Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti opted for a more diplomatic course
Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior, 24, known as ‘Vini’, defiantly posted on X: ‘I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready’
The Spanish giants were hoping one of their frontrunners would win the prestigious award, but news leaked claiming he had been beaten to the Ballon d’Or by Rodri, another favourite.
So ‘Los Blancos’ boycotted the ceremony without anyone from the club present. Vinicius was one of six Real nominees on the shortlist of 30 players for the award, following the club’s success in La Liga and the Champions League.
Carvajal, Bellingham, Fede Valverde, Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger were all up for the Ballon, but no one flew to France – neither manager Ancelotti or president Florentino Perez as they sulked over the result.
The club told AFP: ‘If the award criteria do not indicate Vinicius as the winner, then the same criteria should refer to Carvajal as the winner. Since this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid will not go where it is not respected.”
Rodri’s success is largely down to his role in Spain’s victory at the 2024 European Championship. The City star, 28, who won another Premier League title, was voted the tournament’s best player but Carvajal made also part of the Spanish team.
Real insisted that Carvajal – who also won the Champions League – would be given the edge over Rodri if international success was the main criterion.
Vinicius was unable to add the Copa America to his European club success in the summer as Brazil were knocked out by Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
The Ballon d’Or is voted on by a panel of journalists representing the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings. Real have the joint-most wins of any club in the history of the award; it won twelve times, together with Spanish rival Barcelona.
Karim Benzema was Real’s last winner, claiming the prize in 2022. Since 2000, they have also seen Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro and Ronaldo claim the Ballon d’Or.
Rodri is set to become the first Premier League winner since Ronaldo won the award in 2008. He is also poised to become the first Spanish winner in more than 60 years, under the leadership of this national boss, Luis de la Fuente, who names him as the man with the most popularity. earn.
Last night’s Real boycott saw Kylian Mbappe also miss the chance to lift the Gerd Muller Trophy which he won alongside England captain Harry Kane of Bayern Munich.
The result led to angry reactions from ‘Vini’s’ supporters.
After news broke earlier today that the selection committee had chosen the midfielder as this year’s winner, Real Madrid and Vinicius Jnr decided to pull the plug on their trip to the gala.
Vinicius Jr’s compatriot Richarlison was among many to support the Real player
Bellingham is among the 50-member Madrid party that abruptly canceled their planned trip
After his triumph, Rodri gave an emotional speech that was well received by the crowd
In what was the worst kept secret in football, the Manchester City star was rewarded for his role in Spain’s victory at the 2024 European Championship
The 28-year-old Spanish midfielder stumbled across the red carpet with his wife Laura Iglesias
The Confederation of Brazilian Football wrote: ‘@Vini, your roots are golden. We will always be together. An entire nation is proud of you.”
Vini’s Brazilian teammate and Spurs striker Richarlison posted a live video with his head in his hand as the result was announced, having previously said: ‘If Vini doesn’t win, SH*T goes DOWN.’
He then told his 22 million Instagram followers: “All of us who experience football wait with great anticipation for individual trophies every season. Today all Brazilians who love football woke up expecting that after so long, another player from our country would win the award for the best in the world.
‘Unfortunately the award was not made due to criteria that no one can understand.’
More diplomatically, he added: ‘And don’t get me wrong, Rodri is a great player who deserves to be among the best. But it was embarrassing that Vini didn’t win this Ballon d’Or, and the only thing that lost today was football.
‘I remember Vini saying his dream was to see all of Brazil supporting him. And that day was today! You’re a giant and the best in the world, boy! And no trophy will change that. Keep moving forward and never shut up! We are together!’