The Ballon d’Or event in Paris hasn’t even started yet, but leaked info suggests that Vinicius Jr., who many thought would win, isn’t taking home the award. Instead, it’s being reported that Manchester City’s Rodri will claim the prize, beating out Vinicius and his Real Madrid teammates Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham.
Real Madrid’s Response
Real Madrid is pretty upset about the news and has decided to boycott the ceremony. The club is questioning how the winner is chosen and, according to MARCA, they’re furious and feel Vinicius was unfairly overlooked. Some at the club have even said the Ballon d’Or has “lost all meaning for us.” They also canceled the special five-hour program they had planned on their TV channel, RMTV, and removed any mention of the award at their facilities.
Vinicius Jr.’s Expectations
Reports say Vinicius Jr. expected not to win and decided to skip the event. ESPN also reported that his teammates, including Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde, and others, like Andriy Lunin (nominated for best goalkeeper) and Arda Guler (up for the Kopa Trophy), will also miss the ceremony. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, nominated for best coach, isn’t going either.
Vinícius will NOT travel to Paris today as Real Madrid know he will NOT win the Ballon d’Or 😳 (via @FabrizioRomano) pic.twitter.com/89w8o7hg9R
— 433 (@433) October 28, 2024
Just last week, Ancelotti had expressed hope that Vinicius would win, saying the young player deserved it. Many at Real Madrid shared that optimism. If Vinicius had won, he would have been the first Brazilian to do so since Kaka in 2007.
The Ballon d’Or Race
This year’s competition for the Ballon d’Or was tight, with Jude Bellingham and Rodri being strong contenders. The decision has stirred up debates, with many fans and experts feeling that Vinicius Jr.’s impact was underappreciated.
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