Real Madrid were awarded the Club of the Year title but did not attend Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, where forward Vinicius Junior lost the Best Men’s Player award to Manchester City’s Rodri.
According to reports from AFP and Spanish media, the European champions opted out of attending, stating they would not “go where it is not respected” after learning Vinicius would not win the prestigious award.
Although Real Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti and forward Kylian Mbappe received individual accolades, neither was present to accept their awards.
Spain’s Rodri, 28, claimed the men’s Ballon d’Or, finishing ahead of Vinicius and his Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham.
Vinicius, 24, was Real Madrid’s top scorer last season, leading them to victories in both the Champions League and La Liga.
After Rodri was confirmed as the winner, Vinicius posted on X: “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
It was reported that Real believed Vinicius’ team-mate Dani Carvajal had also been overlooked for the main prize.
“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.”
Ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, organizers clarified that “no player or club knows who has won the Ballon d’Or.”
BBC Sport reached out to Real Madrid for a response. The awards, hosted by France Football, are determined by votes from journalists representing the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries.
Unlike past editions, where the winner was revealed a few days prior, this year’s ceremony kept the recipient’s identity under wraps until the event.
Kylian Mbappe received the Gerd Muller trophy alongside England and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, with both players scoring 44 goals last season.
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who hosted the event, expressed disappointment at the absence of his former manager Carlo Ancelotti, who won the Johan Cruyff Trophy for coach of the year.
Ancelotti posted on X: “I want to thank my family, my president, my club, my players and above all Vini and Carvajal.”
Real midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni posted a photo of himself with team-mate Vinicius and wrote: “Nothing will take away what you’ve achieved my brother. We ALL know… They are not ready for what you’re gonna deliver.”
Spanish newspaper Marca reported Real had planned to send a delegation of 50, and cancelled plans to broadcast a five-hour program on RMTV.