New Delhi: As rumours swirl around Vinicius Jr. potentially missing out on the Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid’s reported decision to boycott the event has led Ballon d’Or officials to respond to claims of a “leaked” winner. The prestigious award, set to be announced at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, has two main favourites this year: Real Madrid’s Vinicius and Manchester City’s Rodri.
Both players have enjoyed outstanding seasons, with Vinicius helping Real Madrid secure major titles and Rodri leading Manchester City to Premier League glory and Spain to a Euro 2024 victory, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
Recently, reports hinted that Vinicius would not win, sparking frustration within the Real Madrid camp. Journalist Fabrice Hawkins claimed on social media that Vinicius would skip the ceremony, stating, “Everyone in Madrid has this feeling” that Vinicius is unlikely to be crowned this year.
The stage is set… 👀#ballondor pic.twitter.com/13yidY5mzg
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
The rumoured snub has led Real Madrid to keep key figures, including Vinicius, manager Carlo Ancelotti, and president Florentino Pérez, away from the ceremony, marking a silent protest against what they perceive as a lack of respect for their star player.
In response, Ballon d’Or executive Marc Las clarified that only two individuals know the winner’s identity – himself and the head of France Football – firmly denying any claims that the winner had been leaked in advance. “Anyone who says they know the winner is lying,” Las told L’Equipe, emphasizing the strict secrecy surrounding the voting process to maintain fairness.
A Ballon d’Or source also stated that “no player or club” is informed beforehand, as this year’s organisers have implemented extra measures to keep the winner confidential until the announcement.
The absence of Real Madrid’s top officials at the ceremony has highlighted their disappointment, sparking speculation on whether Vinicius’ season was unfairly overlooked. As Rodri is now widely expected to win, only the ceremony’s outcome will reveal if Real Madrid’s concerns about perceived bias hold true, or if Vinicius’ season will indeed receive due recognition.
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