French football bosses flew to Spain for a crunch summit with Real Madrid chiefs in a bid to repair relations after Vinicius Jr’s Ballon d’Or snub, according to a report.
The fallout dates back to last year’s awards ceremony in Paris, when Vinicius was expected to be crowned the best player in the world only for the prize to go to Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
The Brazilian forward, fresh from inspiring Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double, had prepared a celebration in the French capital, but the party was cancelled when news filtered through that he had missed out.
Real Madrid’s fury was immediate, with the club pulling their entire 50-strong delegation out of the glitzy gala at the Theatre du Chatelet, leaving organisers scrambling as Rodri collected the prize in front of an audience stunned by the Spanish giants’ boycott.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, a delegation from France Football and UEFA has since travelled to Madrid to meet with the club’s leadership in an attempt to heal the rift.
The meeting, held in the Spanish capital in recent months, was described as tense and ultimately ended without an agreement that would see Real return to the awards in September.
Manchester City star Rodri walkeed away with the most prestigious individual prize in football last year
Real Madrid’s fury was immediate, with the club pulling their entire 50-strong delegation out of the glitzy gala at the Theatre du Chatelet. Pictured: President Florentino Perez
Relations between Real Madrid and the organisers have rarely been so strained. Florentino Perez and senior figures at the Bernabeu remain convinced that Vinicius was unfairly denied the Ballon d’Or and that the changes made to the scoring system were designed to benefit other candidates.
Reports at the time even suggested Real insiders labelled the outcome a ‘historic robbery’.
The scale of the boycott underlined just how deep the frustration ran. Carlo Ancelotti had been lined up to receive the Men’s Coach of the Year award, while Madrid were due to be named Men’s Team of the Year, but neither trophy was collected.
Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal also finished in the top five of the men’s rankings, yet the club refused to allow any of their stars to attend.
France Football, who have overseen the Ballon d’Or since its creation in 1956, hoped UEFA’s involvement would bring greater prestige. Yet in Madrid the link with European football’s governing body has only deepened suspicions, with Real still in open conflict with UEFA over the Super League project.
The snub was particularly bruising for Vinicius, who many had tipped as a certainty after a season in which he scored six times in the Champions League and played a decisive role in Madrid’s European and domestic triumphs. The winger, 24, had been favourite with bookmakers and had even planned a private party in Paris for friends and family.
Instead it was Rodri who walked away with the golden ball, rewarded for his performances in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph as well as Manchester City’s fourth successive Premier League title. The midfielder became the first Premier League-based winner since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.
The backlash from Madrid was immediate. Sources close to the club insisted that if Vinicius had not met the criteria, then right back Carvajal – who lifted the same three major trophies – should have been considered. Their striking response read: ‘If the Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid, then Real Madrid does not respect the Ballon d’Or.’
The snub was particularly bruising for Vinicius, who many had tipped as a certainty after a season in which he scored six times in the Champions League
The rift is still evident months later, with Marca claiming the latest talks in Spain ended in failure. French officials had hoped to secure a return to the gala this year, which is set for September 22, but Madrid have given no guarantees that they will attend.
The Ballon d’Or remains the most prestigious individual award in football, with winners including Alfredo Di Stefano, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema all honoured while playing for Los Blancos.
Real have more men’s winners than any other club, 12 in total, and have long considered their presence at the ceremony essential. Their absence last year was described by observers as unprecedented.
This year, Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele is the overwhelming favourite, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe all expected to feature prominently.
