Real Madrid decided to withdraw from the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony just hours before it commenced in Paris, reportedly after learning that their star forward Vinicius Jr. would miss out on the prestigious award.
Many had expected the Brazilian striker to be among the frontrunners, with some pundits backing him as a strong contender over Manchester City’s standout player, Rodri.
Held annually to recognize the world’s best footballer, the Ballon d’Or is considered the pinnacle of individual awards in the sport.
This year’s 68th ceremony had fans and players eagerly awaiting the final announcement, with 30 top players, including Vinicius Jr., nominated.
Initial rumors suggested that Vinicius might clinch the title, but late-breaking information seemed to indicate otherwise, prompting the player to cancel his trip to Paris.
According to reports from Spanish outlet Marca, Real Madrid had chartered a plane scheduled to depart from Adolfo Suárez Barajas Airport at 3 p.m. local time.
However, the club abruptly canceled the flight, allegedly “in response to information received from Paris.” As a result, no representatives from Real Madrid attended the event.
Following the announcement of Rodri as the winner, Vinicius posted a defiant message on X (formerly Twitter):
“I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.” His post hinted at a renewed determination for future success.
In an official statement, Real Madrid expressed their dissatisfaction, saying,
“If the award criteria don’t recognize Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should consider [Dani] Carvajal.
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As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-Uefa does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”
Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga also shared his disapproval, posting a supportive picture with Vinicius on X with the caption,
“FOOTBALL POLITICS ❌ My brother, you are the best player in the world, and no award can say otherwise. Love you, my bro.”
Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, who was awarded Men’s Coach of the Year, expressed gratitude towards the club, saying,
“I want to thank my Family, my President, my Club, my Players, and above all Vini and Carvajal.”
This news follows a difficult few days for Vinicius Jr., who recently endured a painful 4-0 loss at home in El Clasico against their rivals, Barcelona.
During the game, Barcelona’s Gavi taunted Vinicius by holding up four fingers to emphasize the scoreline, to which Vinicius reportedly responded, “Yes, yes, but on Monday I’m going for the Ballon d’Or.”
Meanwhile, former football star Thierry Henry had also commented on Vinicius’s Ballon d’Or candidacy, ultimately choosing not to back him due to his performances in the Copa America.
“Vini Jr didn’t perform at the Copa America,” Henry explained, “But is he [still] a worthy winner? Yes.”
Real Madrid’s absence from the Ballon d’Or ceremony highlights the club’s discontent with the voting process and raises questions about the transparency and criteria involved in selecting football’s top individual honor.
