Real Madrid representatives are reportedly set to boycott the Ballon d’Or awards for the second year running, plunging the prestigious ceremony into controversy once more.
The rift that began last year has not yet ‘healed’, according to AS, and the Spanish giants have decided to leave their designated seats at the stunning Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday evening.
Los Blancos stunned the footballing world ahead of the 2024 awards when they astonishingly swerved the show at the last minute upon learning that Manchester City’s Rodri would win the sport’s most cherished individual prize instead of their winger Vinicius Jr.
While senior club officials, including president Florentino Perez, are not expected to attend the ceremony, they have given permission to their four nominees to be present in the French capital if they wish.
Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr have all been nominated for the men’s award, while their Scottish star Caroline Weir is up for the women’s main prize.
However, with Xabi Alonso’s side set to face Levante in LaLiga on Tuesday evening, the three male nominees are believed to be missing distinguished extravaganza. Weir, however, is more likely to attend.
Dean Huijsen, Thibaut Courtois, and Linda Caicedo are also up for awards, but seemingly set to follow the boycott.
Madrid are still said to be upset with UEFA after they overlooked Vinicius for the big prize in 2024. At the time they claimed that the organisers, who work with France Football to put on the awards, ‘don’t respect them’.
The club told AFP: ‘If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.
‘As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.’
It led to an awkward moment in which no one turned up to collect the title of best men’s club, which Madrid had won after securing their 15th Champions League title. Meanwhile, former boss Carlo Ancelotti won Coach of the Year and gave his acceptance speech via video.
Seats which had been reserved for Ballon d’Or finalists Vinicius and his teammate Jude Bellingham and others also had to be hastily reallocated and the nameplates removed.
The Brazilian forward ‘Vini’ then defiantly posted on X: ‘I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.’
However, after a far from impressive 2024-25 campaign, he is far from the favourite to take home the crown this time around.
Ousmane Dembele is the leading candidate to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday night, according to bookmakers, and this time around, Madrid players do not seem to have a problem with one of their own missing out.
Mbappe, who is up for the award himself, even admitted he would ‘deliver it’ to Dembele’s house if it were up to him.
