Sure Win
Real Madrid Declines Ballon d’Or Ceremony Attendance After Vinicius Junior Misses Top Award. Despite being named “Club of the Year,” Real Madrid was notably absent from the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris. Their decision came after it was reported that Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior would not receive the Ballon d’Or for the best men’s player, with Manchester City’s Rodri instead taking the honor. This news led Madrid to forgo the event, expressing they would not attend “where they are not respected,” per reports from AFP and Spanish media.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who received the Johan Cruyff Trophy for “Coach of the Year,” and Kylian Mbappe, who shared the Gerd Muller Trophy with Harry Kane as Europe’s top scorer, also skipped the ceremony. Rodri, the Spain international, edged out Vinicius, who was Madrid’s top scorer in their Champions League and La Liga-winning season, as well as teammate Jude Bellingham for the Ballon d’Or.
Following the announcement, Vinicius expressed his motivation on social media, writing, “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.” Real Madrid also reportedly believed that Dani Carvajal had been unfairly overlooked for the main prize. They issued a statement saying that if Vinicius didn’t meet the award criteria, “then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner,” concluding that “Ballon d’Or-Uefa does not respect Real Madrid.”
The awards, organized by France Football, are based on votes from journalists in the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations. In previous years, the winner was revealed days before the ceremony, but this year’s results remained secret until the event.
In a social media post, Ancelotti thanked his family, club, and notably Vinicius and Carvajal, while midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni showed support for Vinicius, noting, “Nothing will take away what you’ve achieved…They’re not ready for what you’re gonna deliver.”
