The prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris was mired in controversy last night after the boycott by Real Madrid and Spanish journalists when striker Vinícius Júnior was denied the title.
Empty chairs could be seen in the auditorium of the Théâtre du Châtelet after the decision to award football’s most precious individual award to Manchester City midfielder Rodri was leaked early.
Although Real Madrid won the title of best men’s club, no one came to collect the award, such was the anger of their sulking group.
Seats that had been reserved for Ballon d’Or finalists Vinícius Júnior and his teammate Jude Bellingham and others were hastily reallocated and the plaques removed.
Brazilian striker Vinícius Júnior, 24, known as ‘Vini’, defiantly posted on X: ‘I will do it ten times if necessary. They are not prepared.
Although he did not attend to collect his Coach of the Year award, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti pointedly mentioned Vinícius Júnior in his ‘acceptance post’ on social media, saying: “I want to thank my family, my president , to my club.” , my players and especially Vini and (defender Dani) Carvajal”.
Real Madrid said in a statement that the decision to ignore Vinicius Jr. showed that the organizers and UEFA “do not respect them.”
The prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris was mired in controversy last night after the boycott by Real Madrid and Spanish journalists when striker Vinícius Júnior was denied the title.
A lame Rodri was crowned the best player in world football at the ceremony in Paris
Real Madrid was unable to collect its Club of the Year award at the Ballon d’Or Ceremony
Vinicius and Jude Bellingham’s seats in the front row were seen without name tags.
Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri receives the Ballon d’Or award during the 2024 Ballon d’Or award ceremony at the Theater du Chatelet in Paris on October 28.
Vinicius Jr’s teammate Eduardo Camavinga criticized the decision as “football politics.” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti adopted a more diplomatic stance
Brazilian striker Vinícius Júnior, 24, known as ‘Vini’, defiantly posted on X: ‘I will do it ten times if necessary. They are not ready
The Spanish giants had hoped one of their leading men would win the prestigious award, but news leaked that Rodri, another favourite, had won the Ballon d’Or.
So ‘Los Blancos’ boycotted the event without anyone related to the club attending. Vinicius was one of six Real Madrid nominees in the list of 30 players shortlisted for the award following the club’s success in La Liga and the Champions League.
Carvajal, Bellingham, Fede Valverde, Kylian Mbappé and Antonio Rudiger were all nominated for the Ball, but none of them flew to France, neither coach Ancelotti nor president Florentino Pérez, who were in a bad mood about the result.
The club told AFP: “If the award criteria do not give Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.” Since it was not like that, it is clear that the UEFA Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where they are not respected.
Rodri’s success is largely due to his leading role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph. The 28-year-old City star, who added another Premier League title, was named best player of the tournament, but Carvajal He was also part of the Spanish team.
Real insisted Carvajal, who also won the Champions League, should be ahead of Rodri if international success was the main criterion.
Vinicius was unable to add the Copa América to his European club success in the summer when Brazil were eliminated by Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
The Ballon d’Or is voted on by a panel of journalists representing the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings. Real have the most wins of any club in the history of the award, winning 12 times alongside Spanish rivals Barcelona.
Karim Benzema was Real Madrid’s last winner and took home the award in 2022. Since 2000, they have also seen Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro and Ronaldo claim the Ballon d’Or.
Meanwhile, Rodri will become the first Premier League winner since Ronaldo won the award in 2008. He is also set to become the first Spanish winner in more than 60 years with this national coach, Luis de la Fuente, naming him as the most worthy man.
Due to Real Madrid’s boycott last night, Kylian Mbappé also missed the chance to collect the Gerd Müller Trophy which he won alongside England captain Harry Kane of Bayern Munich.
The result caused angry reactions among ‘Vini’ followers.
After it became known today that the jury had chosen the midfielder as this year’s winner, Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr. decided to cancel their trip to the gala.
Richarlison, Vinicius Jr’s compatriot, was one of the many who came out to support the Real player
Bellingham is among 50 members of the Madrid group who abruptly canceled their planned trip
After his victory, Rodri gave an emotional speech that was well received by the public.
In what was football’s worst-kept secret, the Manchester City star was rewarded for his role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory.
The 28-year-old Spanish midfielder limped down the red carpet with his wife Laura Iglesias
The Brazilian Football Confederation published: ‘@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 when the result was announced after previously saying: “If Vini doesn’t win, SHIT’S GOING TO FALL.”
He then told his 22 million Instagram followers: ‘All of us who live football wait with bated breath for the individual awards each season. Today, all Brazilian football lovers woke up expecting to see another player from our country win an award for the best in the world after so long.
“Unfortunately, due to criteria that no one can understand, the award did not come.”
More diplomatically, he added: “And don’t get me wrong, Rodri is a great player, who deserves to be among the best.” But the fact that Vini didn’t win this Ballon d’Or was a shame, and the only thing he lost today was football.
“I remember Vini saying that his dream was to see all of Brazil supporting him. And that day was today! You are giant and the best in the world, boy! And no trophy will change that. Keep going and never shut up! We are together !’