Real Madrid is boycotting the Ballon d’Or gala due to a perceived lack of respect, as star Vinícius Junior is unlikely to win the award. The club canceled its trip to Paris and criticized the award criteria that overlooked him. With Manchester City’s Rodri favored to win, the gala will announce its winners amid tensions regarding the legacy of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This year marks the first time the event collaborates with UEFA for voting.
In a surprising turn of events, the competition for the legacy of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has intensified. Real Madrid has decided to boycott the Ballon d’Or gala, expressing their dissatisfaction as star player Vinicius Junior is unlikely to win the award.
Neither Vinicius Junior nor any other Real Madrid players will be in contention for the Ballon d’Or, prompting the team to abruptly cancel their plans to travel to Paris. Tonight, the anticipation builds as the successor to Lionel Messi is set to be announced, with Vinicius Junior often highlighted as a top candidate. However, it appears that Manchester City’s Rodri, a Spanish midfielder, may take home the prestigious honor.
The organizers of the Ballon d’Or responded to these developments by stating that no players or clubs have been informed of the winners ahead of time. Despite this, Real Madrid opted to scrap their scheduled charter flight for 50 people to Paris. Furthermore, a live broadcast on the club’s TV channel that was planned for the event was also canceled without notice.
In a statement provided to the AFP news agency, Real Madrid remarked, ‘It’s evident that Real Madrid is not afforded the respect it deserves at the Ballon d’Or. We will not participate in any event where disrespect is shown.’ They continued, ‘If the criteria for the award overlook Vinícius, then the same standards should recognize Carvajal, who scored the decisive goal in the Champions League final.’
Impact on German Teams
The Ballon d’Or gala features a variety of awards across multiple categories. Initially, both Vinícius Junior and Jude Bellingham (both from Real Madrid) were seen as frontrunners. Yet, it now seems that Rodri, currently sidelined due to injury, is the likely recipient of the award.
Vinícius Junior was eagerly anticipating his first individual accolade, a sentiment echoed by the entire club. Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed confidence last week, stating, ‘I believe he will win.’ The 24-year-old Brazilian was pivotal in helping Real Madrid secure both the Spanish championship and the Champions League title last season.
Throughout the tournament, Real Madrid eliminated all German teams: Union Berlin in the group stage, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich in the knockout rounds, and Borussia Dortmund in the final. Vinícius showcased his scoring ability with 15 goals in La Liga and 6 in the Champions League, netting crucial goals in both the semi-finals against Bayern and the final against Dortmund.
Collaboration with UEFA for Voting
If successful, Vinícius Junior would become the first Brazilian recipient of the award since Kaka won in 2007. This year’s voting also reflects the ongoing legacy of the two dominant figures in soccer since that time. Between 2008 and 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo claimed the award five times, while Lionel Messi won it eight times from 2009 to 2023. Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022 were the only others to interrupt that streak. Notably, neither Messi nor Ronaldo is on this year’s shortlist.
A total of 30 players have been nominated for the prestigious award, which will be presented at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The shortlist also features a German contingent, including Toni Kroos (who is retiring), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), and Mats Hummels (AS Roma). This year marks the first collaboration between the French Groupe Amaury, publishers of ‘L’Equipe’ and ‘France Football,’ and UEFA for the voting process.