France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia said he was “unpleasantly surprised” by Real Madrid’s decision to snub last night’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Madrid had planned to take as many as 50 people to Paris on the assumption that their Brazil winger Vinicius Jr would win the award.
When they got wind of the fact he had lost out to Manchester City midfielder Rodri, the trip was cancelled. That led to one particularly awkward moment when Madrid were named Team of the Year but no-one was in attendance to collect the award.
The 2024 winners list! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/kV28kY5io7
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
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Madrid angry
Madrid claimed they were not respected despite coming top in a raft of categories.
Garcia, whose magazine organise the ceremony along with UEFA, told L’Equipe: “There was a lot of pressure from Real Madrid [to be notified in advance who had won].
“But just like with other clubs, I have always been very clear, fair and perhaps my silence has taken them to the limit. But I was unpleasantly surprised by the absence of Real. We were very clear with them and with all the clubs. This year, the winners were not going to be notified. I thought everyone had accepted this.
“No-one knew at Real or at City. The emotion that Rodri had on stage, that is the best answer. He was not aware of anything.”
Split vote
Garcia felt Vinicius Jr had missed out because other Real Madrid players also performed well, splitting the vote.
He added: “It was a close victory, it wasn’t decided by much.
“Vinicius probably suffered from the presence of [Jude] Bellingham and [Dani] Carvajal in the top five because, mathematically, it took away a few points.”
The news did not go down well in Vinicius Jr’s native Brazil with legendary striker Marta, the country’s leading women’s goalscorer and six-time FIFA Player of the Year, reacting angrily.
She said: “I waited the entire year to see Vini Jr being deservingly recognised as the current best player and now I’m hearing they’re not giving him the Ballon d’Or? What Ballon d’Or is this?”
⁉️😡 “¡QUÉ BALÓN DE ORO ES ESTE!”
‼️ Marta Silva, leyenda del fútbol, estalla tras no ser premiado Vinicius. pic.twitter.com/RrNsXA2jh5
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) October 28, 2024
