Real Madrid skip Ballon d'Or event, reportedly upset about Vinicius snub
Vinicius Junior, the presumptive favorite for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, will not win the award, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.
The Brazilian, along with the rest of the Real Madrid delegation that was expected to attend Monday's ceremony, decided not to make the trip to Paris, reportedly upset upon learning of the voting results. Along with Vinicius, none of Florentino Perez, Carlo Ancelotti, or Jude Bellingham were in attendance.
Real Madrid believe that Manchester City midfielder Rodri, long viewed as Vinicius' primary challenger for the sport's top individual honor, will take home the accolade, sources told Gustavo Hofman and Rodrigo Faez of ESPN.
"If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner," Real Madrid told Agence France-Presse. "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."
The organizers of the event insisted Monday that "no player or club" knows who will win the award. "All the clubs and players are in the same boat," a Ballon d'Or source told Agence France-Presse.
A panel of journalists representing the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings vote on the Ballon d'Or.
Eight Real Madrid players are nominated for various awards that are being handed out by France Football, together with UEFA, on Monday. Ancelotti, meanwhile, is in the running for the top men's coaching honor.
Real Madrid was named the best men's club of the year during the ceremony, but nobody from the storied team was on hand to accept the award at the Theatre du Chatelet.
Vinicius was considered the Ballon d'Or frontrunner after leading Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double last season. He scored 21 goals across those two competitions, including tallies in both the semifinals and final of the Champions League.
The last Brazilian player to claim the men's honor was Kaka in 2007.
Though he had a standout year at club level, the 24-year-old Vinicius struggled in his marquee international tournament of the year, with Brazil being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Copa America.
Conversely, Rodri was named Player of the Tournament as Spain won Euro 2024, a triumph that came on the back of his starring role during Manchester City's latest Premier League title-winning campaign.