Ballon d'Or organizers clarified Vinicius Jr.'s absence from the award ceremony, where he lost to Manchester City's Rodri. Real Madrid withdrew from the event amid controversy, with club officials deeming the decision a "historic robbery" and questioning the award's respect for the club.
The Ballon d'Or organizers have addressed the controversy surrounding Vinicius Jr.'s absence from the award ceremony, where he was considered a top contender. Despite his impressive season, the Real Madrid star lost out to Manchester City's Rodri. Following reports that Vinicius wouldn't be awarded the coveted prize, Real Madrid decided to withdraw their participation from the event.
Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football, explained that Vinicius's chances were hindered by his teammates, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal, being in the top five. This split the voting among Real Madrid players, which ultimately favored Rodri. Garcia expressed regret over the situation, stating he had faced pressure from Real Madrid while maintaining fairness in the voting process.
Reports indicate that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was furious with the outcome, with some club insiders labeling the decision a "historic robbery." Initially, a large contingent from Madrid was set to attend the ceremony, but they canceled after learning that Vinicius would not be winning the award.
A statement from the club criticized the award's criteria, suggesting that if Vinicius was not the winner, then Carvajal should have been recognized instead. The statement concluded that Real Madrid would not attend events where they felt disrespected.
