Real Madrid win Ballon d'Or prize despite awkward Vinicius Junior boycott

Real Madrid were crowned the Men's Club of the Year despite having no representation at the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday night.

Los Blancos remain the team to beat around Europe after a mightily successful 2023/24 campaign which saw Carlo Ancelotti's side pick up La Liga and Champions League titles.

Vinicius Junior had been heavily tipped to win the main prize in Paris but it soon emerged on Monday that the Brazil international would not be crowned the best player in the world. The award was eventually later handed to Euro 2024 winner Rodri.

With Dani Carvajal also overlooked in the opinion of Madrid, none of their superstars attended the event, with the club insisting they do not go where they aren't "respected".

It made for awkward viewing when the Spanish giants were named Men's Club of the Year for their vast achievements last season, with no one associated with Madrid present to collect the silverware.

Co-host Didier Drogba quickly quipped "Congratulations to them", before continuing with the ceremony.

It wasn't the only award they couldn't accept on the night due to their boycott, with Kylian Mbappe and Carlo Ancelotti both failing to show up for their respective Gerd Muller Trophy and Men's Coach of the Year gongs.

Madrid players were quick to take to social media to back Vinicius over the snub, with the likes of Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde all insisting their teammate was robbed.

Vinicius came second in the Ballon d'Or voting, with Madrid teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal placing third and fourth respectively. Rodri gave a special mention to Carvajal, with both players recently suffering severe anterior cruciate ligament injuries early in the season.

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