Sore losers Real Madrid slammed Ballon d’Or organisers and UEFA proclaiming they “don’t respect them” after learning their star forward Vinicius Jnr hadn’t won the prestigious award.
The Spanish giants expected one of their stalwarts to take home the accolade, but Vinicius lost out on the Golden Ball to Manchester City’s star midfielder Rodri, after he also enjoyed an incredible year. Madrid shunned the forthcoming gala in Paris, with none of their associates gracing the event.
After capturing both La Liga and the Champions League titles, Vinicius emerged among six Madridistas on the 30-strong shortlist, joined by the likes of Dani Carvajal, Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde, Kylian Mbappe, and Antonio Rudiger. Yet none from this illustrious list nor gaffer Carlo Ancelotti nor top boss Florentino Perez made an appearance in France.
In a striking message conveyed to AFP, the club whinged: “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.”
Rodri’s rise to glory has been pinned to his pivotal role in Spain claiming victory in Euro 2024. As Manchester City secured yet another Premier League title, he was named the tournament’s top player; however, Carvajal too was part of the victorious Spanish contingent, reports the Mirror.
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Real Madrid argued his Champions League win and involvement in the team should place him ahead of Rodri if international success is the main criterion. However, Vinicius couldn’t add the Copa America to his European triumph as Brazil didn’t claim victory in that tournament.
Football fans slammed Madrid’s statement, with the club branded “sore losers” and “classless”. One fan posted on X: “Real Madrid are sore losers as a club. They think they have the monopoly over everything in club football. Awards aren’t designed to massage your ego. Very classless!”
Another supporter said: “all that talk of madrid aura and winning mentality and they the biggest sore losers lmfaooo.” While a third added: “Real Madrid not showing up today was one of the most pathetic things I’ve ever seen. Sore losers who cannot show some grace. Biggest club in the world acting like entitled brats. Lost a ton of respect for that institution.”
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The Ballon d’Or is decided by a panel of journalists from the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings. Madrid share the record for the most wins in the award’s history, with 12 victories, the same as their Spanish rivals Barcelona. Karim Benzema was their most recent winner, bagging the award in 2022.
Since the start of the new millennium, they’ve also seen Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro and Ronaldo lift the Golden Ball. On the other hand, Rodri was the first Premier League player to win the award since Ronaldo in 2008.
He’s also the first Spaniard to win in over 60 years, with his national boss, Luis de la Fuente, naming him as the most deserving candidate. City have had to do without their star man this season after he limped out of Champions’ 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League following a collision with Thomas Partey, with Pep Guardiola later confirming he had undergone surgery on his ACL and meniscus.