'Not respected' Real Madrid absent from Ballon d'Or

Vinicius Junior scored 24 goals and made 11 assists during the 2023-24 season

Real Madrid won the club of the year award but were absent from Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris, where forward Vinicius Junior was beaten to best men's player by Manchester City's Rodri.

The European champions said their representatives would not go where Real are "not respected" after learning Vinicius would miss out on the prestigious trophy, according to reports from news agency AFP and Spanish media.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti and forward Kylian Mbappe both won individual honours but neither was present to receive their award.

Spain international Rodri, 28, won the men's Ballon d'Or ahead of Vinicius and Real Madrid team-mate Jude Bellingham.

Brazil international Vinicius, 24, was Real Madrid's top scorer last season as the Spanish giants won 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."

But prior to the ceremony organisers said "no player or club knows who has won the Ballon d'Or".

BBC Sport has contacted Real Madrid for comment.

'Maybe my silence changed their minds'

The awards, organised by France Football, are based on voting by a panel of journalists from the top 100 Fifa-ranked nations.

Each journalist selects 10 players from a list of 30 nominees, placing them in order from 10th to first.

Players in first receive 15 points, with 12, 10, eight, seven, five, four, three, two and one points being awarded to the rest of the top 10.

The player with the highest number of points after voting is awarded the Ballon d'Or.

In previous editions the winner has been revealed a few days before the ceremony, but organisers chose to keep the winner's identity a secret this year.

"No-one knew at Real or at City," Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football, told French newspaper L'Equipe.

"The emotion that Rodri had on stage, that is the best answer. He was not aware of anything.

"I had a lot of pressure from Real Madrid but, as with other clubs, I was always clear and fair. Maybe my silence made them change their minds."

Garcia said all clubs were notified that the winner would not be announced before the ceremony and he questioned whether Real's decision to be absent had "an element of bluffing".

"It was a close victory, it wasn't decided by much," Garcia said.

"Vinicius probably suffered from the presence of Bellingham and Carvajal in the top five because, mathematically, it took away a few points."

Rodri, the first Premier League-based winner since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, said: "It is their decision.

"They have decided not to come and we have to accept that. I am focusing on my club. I will go and celebrate this award with them."

'They are not ready'

Mbappe shared the Gerd Muller trophy - awarded to the best men's goalscorer in Europe - with England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane after both players finished last season with 44 goals.

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, presenting Monday's ceremony, said he was "disappointed" not to see his former manager Ancelotti after he won the men's 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."

Former Brazil forward Rivaldo, who won the Ballon d'Or in 1999, was critical of the the decision to overlook Vinicius Jr.

"In my opinion he is the best and should have won and I don't understand the criteria used by the people who voted," said Rivaldo.

Brazil women's legend Marta said: "I waited all year for Vini Jr to be deservedly recognised as the best player in the world and now they come to tell me that the Ballon d'Or is not for him?"

Spanish newspaper Marca reported Real had planned to send a delegation of 50, and cancelled plans to broadcast a five-hour program on RMTV.