Real Madrid Kept Vinicius Junior in the Dark About Ballon d’Or Loss Ahead of El Clasico
- Drama unfolded at the 2024 Ballon d'Or gala when Rodri claimed the trophy over Vinicius Junior, leaving many fans shocked
- Vinicius was considered a strong favourite for the prestigious honour following his instrumental role for Real Madrid last season
- It might be the most lucrative individual award in football, but the winner does not receive any monetary gains
Real Madrid reportedly knew Vinicius Junior would miss out on the 2024 Ballon d'Or but chose not to inform him before their crucial El Clasico match against Barcelona.
Los Blancos viewed the Brazilian as a near-certain winner, with strong backing from fans and football figures alike.
Source: Getty Images
However, Rodri narrowly edged out Vinicius in the final voting, leading the entire Real Madrid delegation to skip the event in protest.
None of Madrid’s six nominees, nor any club representatives, travelled to Paris, signalling their clear displeasure with the event organisers, France Football.
Real Madrid 'knew' about Vinicius missing out on Ballon d'Or
Now according to Spanish journalist Anton Meana, Real Madrid 'knew' about Vinicius Junior missing out on the 2024 Ballon d'Or all along but decided not to tell him ahead of El Clasico.
Real Madrid’s management made the decision to avoid distracting Vinicius and keep his focus on the highly anticipated La Liga fixture.
Just days before the Ballon d’Or ceremony, Vinicius’s entourage reached out to the club for confirmation regarding his status as a contender.
However, the club’s sources informed them that he was not the chosen winner.
With this news, Vinicius and his team cancelled their plans to attend the Ballon d’Or gala in Paris, opting instead to remain focused on the season’s priorities.
In a show of quiet protest, Real Madrid as a whole decided to forgo any presence at the award ceremony, which ultimately saw Manchester City’s Rodri take the prestigious prize.
The club’s decision not to reveal the disappointing news to Vinicius underscores its focus on team performance and perhaps its sense of disappointment that its star forward had been overlooked for the award.
How much Rodri earn after Ballon d'Or success
YEN.com.gh also reported on how much newly minted Ballon d'Or winner Rodri will receive after collecting the prize.
It might be the most lucrative individual award in football, but the winner does not receive any monetary gains.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
