Vinícius Júnior and Real Madrid Boycott the Ballon d'Or

In a surprising move, Vinícius Júnior and his Real Madrid teammates will not be attending the prestigious Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris, sources from ESPN reveal. The decision stems from their belief that Manchester City midfielder Rodri is the frontrunner to take home the coveted award.

Vinícius Júnior's Stellar Season

At just 24 years old, Vinícius Júnior had been one of the top candidates for the 2024 men's Ballon d'Or after a stellar season that saw him lead Real Madrid to both the LaLiga and Champions League titles. His contributions were undeniable, scoring 15 goals in LaLiga and adding six more in the Champions League, including crucial strikes in both the semifinal against Bayern Munich and the final against Borussia Dortmund.

The Protest Against a 'Historic Robbery'

Alongside Vinícius, several other Madrid players were nominated, including Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, and Federico Valverde, as well as goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and coach Carlo Ancelotti, nominated for their respective awards. However, the team's absence at the event reflects a protest against what some insiders at the club are calling “a historic robbery.” One source described the situation as “unfair” and a “disgrace,” voicing strong dissatisfaction regarding Vinícius not being recognized as the winner.

Expectations from Carlo Ancelotti

The sentiments in Madrid had leaned toward the idea that Vinícius was a strong contender to secure the award, with coach Carlo Ancelotti expressing confidence in his potential victory just a week prior to the ceremony. Had he won, Vinícius would have made history as the first Brazilian to claim the men's Ballon d'Or since Kaká in 2007.

Last Year’s Winner and Recent Performances

It's noteworthy that last year’s Ballon d'Or was awarded to Lionel Messi—his eighth—including Karim Benzema of Real Madrid winning the title in 2022. In recent performances, Vinícius showcased his remarkable talent by scoring a stunning second-half hat trick in Real Madrid's 5-2 comeback win over Dortmund last week. However, the team faced a stark contrast in their following match, suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to their arch-rivals Barcelona in El Clásico.

Copa America Contributions

Additionally, during the recent Copa America, Vinícius played a significant role, netting twice against Paraguay in a commanding 4-1 victory, though Brazil's journey was unfortunately cut short with a quarterfinal exit against Uruguay.

The Future of Vinícius Júnior

With the Ballon d'Or around the corner, the football world is left to wonder: could this snubbing signify a deeper issue within football's most prestigious award? And what does the future hold for Vinícius as one of football's brightest stars?