Real Madrid are set to boycott the Ballon d'Or ceremony for a second consecutive year, with reports from the Daily Mail suggesting that the club's long-running feud with the awards organisers has not been resolved.
The club, which was furious that Vinícius Júnior lost the award to Rodri in 2024, is set to continue its formal protest and will not be sending any representatives to the ceremony on September 22 in Paris.
The move is a major blow for the awards, which will be without the presence of one of the biggest clubs in world football.
The news comes shortly after a delegation from France Football, the organisers of the award, attempted to make peace with the club but were unsuccessful.
The club's decision is a clear indication that their dispute with the awards organisers is far from over.
Why Real Madrid are boycotting the award
The dispute began in 2024, when Vinícius Júnior was widely expected to win the award but lost out to Rodri.
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The club was furious with the decision and believed that the result did not correspond to the reality of what actually happened on the pitch.
The club has also raised objections over the new scoring and evaluation methods and the involvement of UEFA in the process.
Real Madrid has not publicly acknowledged the nominations of its three players, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappé, which is a clear sign that relations remain strained.
The impact of the club’s decision
The absence of Real Madrid from the Ballon d'Or ceremony will be a major talking point for fans and pundits alike.
The club, which has the most Ballon d'Or awards for men alongside Barcelona, will not have any representatives at the event, and their players will also be absent.
The absence of Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappé will be a major blow to the ceremony, which will be without some of the biggest stars in world football.
The club's decision is a clear indication that they do not believe in the awards and that they will continue to boycott them until their concerns are addressed.
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