For the second consecutive year, Real Madrid has elected not to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris—a decision rooted in what the club describes as a profound sense of disrespect following the outcome of the 2024 award. The club’s boycott, confirmed ahead of the ceremony, centers on the belief that Vinícius Júnior was unfairly overlooked despite being widely considered a frontrunner and having played a key role in Real Madrid’s successful La Liga and Champions League campaign.
Real Madrid publicly questioned the criteria used by France Football and UEFA, particularly given Vinícius’s performances across all competitions, and argued that Dani Carvajal, another nominee, was similarly undervalued. Their core argument was: “If the criteria doesn’t yield Vinícius as the winner, those same criteria must at least point to Carvajal.”
The club’s decision was made in advance of the gala, with the Madrid delegation—including players, coaching staff, and senior executives—opting not to attend. The move was both symbolic and deeply felt. According to statements, Real Madrid felt that the announcements and conduct surrounding the ceremony had already signaled Vinícius would not win, and that the process lacked the transparency they expected for such a celebrated individual prize.
France Football and the Ballon d’Or organisers have denied allegations of procedural bias. They reinforced that for the 2024 edition, measures were taken to ensure secrecy until the very end—no club or player was informed ahead of time who the winner would be.
Despite the controversy, the award was ultimately given to Rodri of Manchester City. In interviews following the ceremony, Rodri expressed regret at his rival club’s absence but focused gratitude on his teammates and the jury.
The fallout from Madrid’s boycott reignited debates over fairness in individual football awards, the role of transparency in voting, and whether racism or off-field factors played a part. For many fans, pundits, and players, this episode has recalibrated expectations for the Ballon d’Or—not simply as a ceremony, but as a reflection of how recognition is allocated in the modern game.
Africa Digital News, New York
