Informed about the winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or, which is not their player Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid have decided to boycott the ceremony in protest. With tensions at their peak, the name that the Madrid leaders accuse is now known.
After last Saturday’s surprise in the Clasico for the eleventh day of the Spanish Liga, Real Madrid is faced with another dramatic situation. This Monday, as Florentino Pérez and his colleagues prepared to travel to the French capital to see Vinicius Junior win the 2024 Ballon d’Or, as the majority believed, it was finally Rodri’s name that was announced as the winner. Against all expectations, the 24-year-old Brazilian winger, who had an exceptional last season, has been excluded according to the new criteria of France Football.
Real Madrid’s incomprehension
Outraged by this news, which is all the rage this Monday, the whole of Real Madrid has decided to boycott the ceremony. From Florentino Pérez to his assistants, Carlo Ancelotti, and the players, no Madrid member will travel to Paris, according to RMC Sport, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. Having had a remarkable season, highlighted by titles in La Liga, the Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup, Vinicius Junior is fully supported by the entire Casa Blanca.
According to Diario AS, Real Madrid do not understand why it is Rodri who has been announced as the winner of this 68th edition of the Ballon d’Or. Indeed, while the Madrid club recognises that France Football has once again changed its criteria, they do not understand why Dani Carvajal, who meets all the requirements, has not been chosen. Having had an excellent season with Carlo Ancelotti’s team, the 32-year-old Spanish veteran, who won his sixth Champions League in June, also won Euro 2024. Carvajal has thus outperformed Rodri.
UEFA accused by the Madrid team
According to an internal source within the Madrid club, the involvement of UEFA, which joins France Football for the first time in organising the Ballon d’Or, is solely responsible for this scandal. “It is a disregard for Real Madrid,” say the Merengues directors. Besides the disrespect of UEFA and the magazine France Football, which the Merengues denounce, there are questions about whether Vinicius Junior has been excluded because of his skin colour.
Indeed, when one looks at the magnificent season that the 24-year-old Brazilian had with Madrid last season, where he also criticised football officials for their leniency in matters related to racism, it could be seen as a punishment directed at him. Scoring 21 goals and providing 9 assists last season, Vinicius Junior has clearly left a stronger impression than Rodri, who was neither the best player in the Premier League nor in the Champions League.
In any case, as Cristiano Ronaldo has done for several years, Real Madrid’s boycott of the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony is more than justified. Many should indeed turn their backs on this award, which continues to lose its value with an increasing number of scandals over the years.
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