Real Madrid will not attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, citing discontent with the selection process and what they see as an unfair snub of their star striker, Vinicius Jr., widely considered a frontrunner for the award. The club, speaking to AFP, questioned the Ballon d’Or’s criteria and suggested that if Vinicius was overlooked, defender Dani Carvajal should have been a strong candidate.
“If the award criteria doesn’t recognize Vinicius as the winner, then by those same standards, Carvajal should be awarded the honor,” a Real Madrid representative told AFP. “Since this is not the case, it’s evident that Ballon d’Or organizers don’t respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid will not go where it is not respected.”
Organizers of the Ballon d’Or have adopted a new approach this year by keeping the winner’s identity a secret until the ceremony’s conclusion to prevent leaks—a departure from previous years, when winners were announced days before the event. Despite invitations extended to all nominees, Real Madrid’s absence suggests that neither Vinicius, Carvajal, nor fellow nominee Jude Bellingham—key figures in Real Madrid’s recent European successes—will take home the prestigious trophy.
This absence could pave the way for Manchester City midfielder Rodri, fresh from his UEFA Euro 2024 win and tournament-best player accolade, to claim the Ballon d’Or. The final decision will be made by a jury of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations.
