Amid the glitz and glamour of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, a notable absence stole the spotlight.
The decision not to award the coveted prize to Vinicius Jr. caused a ripple effect, leading to the conspicuous withdrawal of Real Madrid players from the event. This unexpected turn of events has stirred up controversy and sparked a debate about fairness in football’s most prestigious award.
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Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football, the organization behind the Ballon d’Or, offered insights into why Vinicius Jr. missed out on the prize. “Vinicius surely suffered from the presence of Bellingham and Carvajal in the top five because, mathematically, that took away some points from him.
This also sums up Real Madrid’s season, which had three or four players in contention, leading to a split in the judges’ votes, ultimately benefiting Rodri,” Garcia explained. Reports emerged earlier in the day suggesting that Vinicius would not be receiving the Ballon d’Or, prompting Real Madrid to boycott the ceremony.
“I faced a lot of pressure from Real Madrid, but, as with other clubs, I maintained a clear and fair stance. Perhaps my silence pushed them to the limit. However, it was the same process for all.
“I was unpleasantly surprised by their absence,” Garcia added. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was reportedly furious over the decision.
Journalist Jose Luis Sanchez mentioned that a group of 50 people was set to attend the event but cancelled upon learning that Vinicius would not be the winner.
Sources at the club expressed to ESPN Brazil that they viewed the snub as a “historic robbery,” with Marca reporting insiders declaring, “the Ballon d’Or no longer exists for us.”
A statement from Real Madrid to AFP voiced their discontent: “If the award criteria don’t point to Vinicius as the winner, those same criteria should indicate Carvajal as the winner. Since 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.”
Vinicius Jr., often regarded as one of the brightest talents in modern football, had an impressive season with Real Madrid, contributing significantly to the team’s success.
His performance was widely acknowledged, yet the Ballon d’Or is known for its intense competition and subjective voting process.
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The voting is done by a panel of international journalists who assess various aspects of the players’ performances over the season.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony has seen its share of controversies in the past. In 2010, many felt that Wesley Sneijder deserved the award after his stellar performances with Inter Milan and the Netherlands.
Similarly, in 2018, Luka Modric’s win was questioned by fans who believed Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi were more deserving that year. As the discussions about Vinicius Jr’s snub continue, this episode highlights the complexities and pressures surrounding the Ballon d’Or award.
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