Ancelotti and Real Madrid Players Express Outrage as Rodri Wins Ballon d’Or over Vinicius Jr

Carlo Ancelotti and several Real Madrid players voiced their frustrations following the announcement that Manchester City midfielder Rodri edged out Vinicius Jr to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Rodri, instrumental in both Manchester City’s Premier League success and Spain’s Euro 2024 win, was awarded the honor after being voted as the best player in the world by top-ranked FIFA nation journalists.

Real Madrid, in a bold move, boycotted the Paris ceremony, seemingly aware that Vinicius would not be taking home the prize. The club’s absence meant no representative was present to accept their Team of the Year award, nor did Ancelotti collect his Johan Cruyff trophy for the best coach.

Following the ceremony, Ancelotti posted on Instagram, subtly hinting at his disappointment while expressing gratitude: “Thank you to my family, my president, my club, my players, and above all, Vini and Carvajal.” Teammates were quick to follow suit, with Eduardo Camavinga, Andrey Lunin, and Eder Militao posting messages of support for Vinicius, each affirming him as the world’s best in their eyes.

Vinicius reportedly canceled his planned celebrations after the loss, though he finished second, with Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal following in third and fourth, respectively.

Real Madrid fans and players alike continue to rally behind Vinicius, showing that while the Ballon d’Or title slipped away, his contributions remain cherished within the club.