Real Madrid Boycotts Ballon d’Or Over Vinicius Jr Snub, Overlooks Jude Bellingham as Contender
In the Ballon d’Or consideration, the club expected Vinicius or Carvajal to win instead of Bellingham.
Real Madrid reportedly boycotted the Ballon d’Or event because they were upset that Vinicius Jr. didn’t receive the prize, which was expected to go to Rodri of Manchester City. Real Madrid apparently did not view Jude Bellingham as a viable contender for the coveted award, despite his stellar season. Instead, they prioritized Vinicius and Dani Carvajal as their key contenders.
The club expects Vinicius or Carvajal to win.
Real Madrid insiders told AS that although Vinicius was predicted to win the Ballon d’Or, Carvajal was considered as a possible backup because of Vinicius’ inconsistent Copa America performance. Despite Bellingham’s great La Liga debut season, the team apparently did not rank him among their top picks.
Given their players’ impressive accomplishments in the 2023–24 season, Real Madrid’s choice to forgo the event highlights the club’s discontent with the Ballon d’Or selection method.
