According to news agencies and Spanish media, the European champions stated that their delegates would not travel to a place where Real Madrid is “not respected” after finding out Vinicius would not be receiving the coveted trophy.
Both Kylian Mbappe and Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid, were not there to accept their individual awards.
The 28-year-old Spain international Rodri defeated Vinicius and Jude Bellingham, a teammate from Real Madrid, to win the men’s Ballon d’Or.
Vinicius, a 24-year-old Brazil international, led Real Madrid in scoring during the previous season as the Spanish powerhouses won the Champions League.
Vinicius wrote on X after Rodri was declared the winner: “I’ll do it ten times if I have to. They’re not prepared.
According to reports, Real thought Vinicius’ teammate Dani Carvajal had also been passed over for the top award.
The club claimed in a statement to Spanish media that “if the award criteria don’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.”
