Real Madrid boycotts the ceremony, convinced that Vinicius will not win – Libération

The White House is very green. While the name of the future Ballon d’Or must be announced this Monday, October 28 in the evening in Paris, Real Madrid has already announced that its managers and players will boycott the ceremony. The most successful club in Europe (15 Champions Leagues on the clock) has been in disarray since it is convinced that its Brazilian striker, Vinicius, the big favorite for this annual ceremony, will not be crowned this evening.

“If the award criteria do not designate Vinicius as the winner, these same criteria should designate Carvajal [champion d’Europe en club et en sélection en 2024, ndlr] as winner. As this was not the case, it is obvious that the UEFA Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid is not where it is not respected,” the Madrid club, winner of the Champions League in 2024, told AFP.

The club’s statement therefore suggests that neither Vinicius, nor Dani Carvajal, nor Jude Bellingham, architects of the club’s European coronation in June, will win the trophy, leaving the way open to the Spanish player from Manchester City Rodri. Winner of the Euro with La Roja, the 28-year-old midfielder was named best player of the tournament by UEFA. Last year, Messi was crowned for the eighth time in his career despite a very average season, which had already been massively criticized.

“No player or club knows on Monday afternoon who won” the Ballon d’Or

Madrid’s fury is all the less understandable since this year, no one is supposed to know who the future Ballon d’Or will be. The organizers – UEFA and the Amaury group (which owns the Team et France Football) – decided to innovate in 2024 by keeping the identity of the winner secret until the end to avoid any leaks to the press. In previous years, the winner was revealed a few days before the prize was awarded. All those nominated are thus invited to the ceremony organized this evening in Paris, without knowing which of them will leave sacred. The Ballon d’Or is awarded after the vote of a jury of journalists representing the top 100 nations in the Fifa rankings.

To AFP, the organization also assures in reaction to Real Madrid’s statements that“no player or club knows on Monday afternoon who won” the Ballon d’Or. And to add : “All clubs and players are in the same boat.”