The European champions reportedly stated they would not attend a ceremony “where they are not respected,” according to AFP and Spanish media sources.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- BBNaija: It Was All Part of the Game – Kassia Apologies to Toby Forge
- Has Protest Lost Its Potency In Nigeria?
- ‘PDP Is dead, APC Has Finished Nigeria’ –Kwankwaso
Real Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti and forward Kylian Mbappe won individual awards but also skipped the event.
Spain international Rodri, 28, took home the men’s Ballon d’Or, finishing ahead of Vinicius and his Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham. Vinicius, who was Real Madrid’s top scorer in their La Liga and Champions League-winning season, responded on X, writing: “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
Reports suggest Real Madrid believed that Dani Carvajal, another of their players, was also unfairly overlooked for the main award.
FURTHER READING
- ‘PDP Is dead, APC Has Finished Nigeria’ –Kwankwaso
- Arsenal Beat PSG To Get First Champions League Win
- Has Protest Lost Its Potency In Nigeria?
“If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner,” the club said in a statement to AFP and Spanish media.
“As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-Uefa does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”
But prior to the ceremony organisers said “no player or club knows who has won the Ballon d’Or”.
Click here to watch our video of the week
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
