CNN —
As the stars of soccer gathered in Paris for the Ballon d’Or ceremony – an event which celebrates the very best of the sport – there was one very notable absentee.
Real Madrid, arguably the biggest club in world soccer, decided not to send its representatives to Monday’s event, after learning that star player Vinícius Jr. had not won the award for best men’s player, per multiple reports.
According to AFP, The Athletic and multiple Spanish outlets, Los Blancos said they would not go where they were “not respected.”
Manchester City midfielder Rodri was named the men’s Ballon d’Or winner after the Spaniard enjoyed a brilliant season with club and country.
Vinícius finished second, ahead of his Madrid teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal – who finished third and fourth respectively.
Barcelona Femení and Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí won her second consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin for best women’s player.
The Ballon d’Or award is voted for by journalists from the top-100 ranked countries in the world for the men’s award, according to FIFA’s latest rankings, and the top-50 for the women’s award.
“If the award criteria do not proclaim Vinícius Jr. the winner, those same criteria should proclaim Carvajal the winner,” a Madrid source told AFP, The Athletic and Spanish outlets.
“As this has not been the case, it is obvious that the UEFA Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid is not where it is not respected.”
CNN has reached out to Real Madrid for comment.
CNN has also reached out to UEFA and Groupe Amaury – who for the first time co-organized the award – for comment.
Former midfielder Clarence Seedorf, who played for the likes of AC Milan and Real Madrid during a brilliant career, said he was surprised Vinícius didn’t win the award and alluded to possible tension between the Spanish giant and the European governing body.
“I think Vini deserves this award. It seems like there’s something going on between Real Madrid and UEFA that hasn’t been resolved,” Seedorf, who was at the ceremony, told TNT Sports Brasil.
“It’s a shame because I think these things have to be separated, particularly for a player who’s in a special moment. We’ll see. Let’s see what happens.”
