Real Madrid boycott Ballon d’Or as Vinicius Jr loses out to Rodri

Real Madrid’s players did not turn up to the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris after star forward Vinicius Jr was beaten to the top prize by Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.

The Real Madrid delegation cancelled their trip to Monday night’s ceremony at the last minute when the “leaked results” of the prestigious award showed Rodri had received the most votes ahead of Vinicius and Jude Bellingham.

Real Madrid were thrashed 4-0 by rivals Barcelona in Saturday night’s Clasico and there was a total blackout of posts on the club’s social media channels during the Ballon d’Or with no acknowledgment of the ceremony.

Brazil international Vinicius Jr was long considered the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or after playing a starring role in the club’s Champions League and LaLiga titles last season but the 24-year-old finished second in the overall vote.

Instead, Rodri became the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or after the 28-year-old named player of the tournament at this summer’s European Championships and helped Manchester City to a fourth consecutive Premier League.

Rodri, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury, follows Lionel Messi and becomes only the fifth different player to win the individual award since 2007 - with the majority of those prizes claimed by either Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real Madrid had been planning to travel to Paris for the ceremony until it turned out that Vinicius would not receive top prize. It meant that although Real Madrid were named men’s club of the year after winning a 15th European Cup and 36th Spanish league title, there was no one from the club to receive the award and the ceremony quickly moved on.

Similarly, Kylian Mbappe was named joint-recipient of the Gerd Muller Trophy along with Harry Kane, but was not present while the England striker went up on stage for an interview and video montage.

Perhaps even more awkwardly, Ballon d’Or host Didier Drogba had clearly expected Carlo Ancelloti to be present to collect the coach of the year prize, but the Italian manager also joined in the boycott with his Real Madrid team.

Ballon d’Or voting is determined by a panel of journalists from the top 100 Fifa-ranked countries and Rodri was emotional as he received the historic prize at the Theatre du Chatelet. Rodri was helped onto the stage on crutches due to his knee injury.

“I have so many things to thank people for,” he said on stage. “First of all to France Football and to Uefa for giving me this award. I would like to thank those who voted for me and put their trust in me. Today is a very special day for me and for my family, my country.

“I would like to thank the most important person in the world for me, my girlfriend Laura. Today is our anniversary and without her things wouldn’t have been the same. Thank you.

“Also my family, of course. The values they have taught me and all they represent in me, for having taught me the right steps to take and for helping be become the man I am...

“I don’t want to forget my team-mates, I understand it is a group game. Manchester City is so special, I know I wouldn’t make this without you. For me it is the best club in the world, and thanks to them things happen much easier.

“The national team and Luis (de la Fuente, coach), for trusting me for so long, I have to mention my team-mates with whom we won the Euros. This is not just for me but for Spanish football.”

Another star player not present at the ceremony was Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who instead travelled to Sweden to see former club Malmo win the league.

Haaland, who finished runner-up in Ballon d’Or voting last season, made the trip to Malmo ahead of their game against rivals IFK Gothenburg, where a win sealed their second straight Allsvenskan title and fourth in five years.