Did UEFA set a trap for Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr. at the Ballon d'Or?

Brazilian football star Vinicius Junior had hoped to win his first Ballon d'Or in 2024, but instead was left disappointed.

Instead, it was Manchester City’s Rodri, a European champion with Spain and widely regarded as one of the top central midfielders in the world, who claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2024. However, this result is at odds with wider public opinion, which still holds Vinicius Jr. as the rightful winner of the coveted football award.

It certainly seems that something might be amiss in the selection process for the 2024 Ballon d'Or. The absence of anyone from Real Madrid at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where the ceremony took place, only fuels the speculation.

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The real question is whether UEFA deliberately set a trap for Real Madrid. Did they intend to stage a moment where Florentino Pérez, alongside Vini Jr., Bellingham, and Mbappé, would watch as Rodri took home the Ballon d'Or? While nothing is certain, the timeline of events might hold some hints.

The situation erupted mid-morning. Real Madrid was on the verge of departing Madrid for Paris with a group of 50 people, including nominated players, president Florentino Pérez, Carlo Ancelotti, family members, and other guests, as All Football reports.

Just before departure, however, someone from Manchester City informs Florentino Pérez that Rodri will be winning the Ballon d'Or – news that catches the Real Madrid president completely off guard. This revelation changes all their plans.

And beyond the sporting merits, Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr. had already been informed that he was the winner of the award this year, and both the club and Nike, Vini Jr's sponsor, had already prepared tributes for the Brazilian star, according to Goal.

Additionally, it is reported, by The Guardian among others, that Vini Jr. had planned a celebration in Paris for the Real Madrid delegation to attend after the ceremony, in anticipation of the award he had allegedly been informed he would win about ten days prior.

It was reportedly Florentino Pérez himself who informed Vini Jr. that he would not be winning the Ballon d'Or. Following this revelation, the Real Madrid delegation allegedly decided not to attend the ceremony – not out of resentment, but because they felt misled.

It’s clear that UEFA is not particularly pleased with Real Madrid and Florentino Pérez, especially since the Real Madrid president is a prominent advocate for the Super League – a competition aimed at replacing the current Champions League.

Naturally, the millions of fans who watched the gala have their own opinions on the matter, supporting various perspectives. However, it’s undeniable that the Ballon d'Or organization engaged in some questionable practices during the ceremony.

One of the most glaring instances occurred during the countdown of the Ballon d'Or nominees, when the organization failed to share the names of the players who finished in fourth, third, and second place, jumping directly from Haaland in fifth to Rodri as the winner. Notably, the players omitted were Carvajal, Bellingham, and Vini Jr.

Photo: X - Ballon d'Or

As fate would have it, this was the first time that France Football organized the ceremony in collaboration with UEFA, and it marked the first occasion when the winner was not announced in advance, nor were photos taken of the winner with the trophy.

Did UEFA set a trap for Real Madrid? Only the organization's leaders, led by Aleksander Čeferin, can answer that question. What is evident after the gala is that the conflict between Real Madrid and UEFA has reached an all-time high.

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