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

2024-10-28 16:43:00

The managers of the Madrid club denounce a lack of “respect”, convinced that none of their players will be crowned Ballon d’Or this Monday 28 October. The organization assures for its part that no one knows the identity of the future winner.

The White House is very green. While the name of the future Ballon d’Or winner will have to be announced on Monday 28 October, 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 League titles) is in disarray because it is convinced that its Brazilian striker Vinicius, a big favorite for this annual ceremony, will not be crowned tonight.

“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 the winner. Since 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, winners 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 for Manchester City’s Spaniard Rodri. Winner of the European Championship 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 an average season, which had already been heavily criticised.

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

Real Madrid’s fury is all the less understandable given that this year no one should know who the future Ballon d’Or winner 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 the nominees are thus invited to the ceremony organized this evening in Paris, without knowing which of them will be left sacred. The Ballon d’Or is awarded after the vote of a jury made up of journalists representing the top 100 nations in the FIFA ranking.

The organization, in response to Real Madrid’s statements, assures this to AFP“No player or club will know on Monday afternoon who won” the Golden Ball. And add : “All clubs and players are in the same boat.”