Vinícius Júnior has decided to skip the Ballon d’Or ceremony, with sources revealing that he and his Real Madrid teammates won’t be attending the event in Paris. This decision comes after a belief within Madrid that Manchester City’s Rodri will likely win the prestigious award. Meanwhile, former Barcelona star Thierry Henry weighed in on the current power dynamic in La Liga, claiming that Real Madrid is “scared” of Barcelona under Hansi Flick’s leadership. This comes after Barcelona’s dominant 4-0 victory over Madrid in the season’s first Clásico, a result that many view as signaling a potential shift in the balance of power in Spanish football.
Vinícius Júnior To Miss Ballon d’Or Ceremony
Vinícius Júnior and his Real Madrid teammates have decided not to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday, according to ESPN sources. They believe Manchester City midfielder Rodri is set to win the award.
At 24, Vinícius was a top contender for the 2024 men’s award after guiding Madrid’s double in the La Liga and Champions League last season.
ESPN sources revealed that Vinícius and his fellow Madrid nominees—Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Kylian Mbappé, Antonio Rüdiger, Federico Valverde, along with Andriy Lunin (nominated for best goalkeeper), Arda Güler (Kopa Trophy nominee), and Carlo Ancelotti (nominated for best coach)—will not attend the event, which is hosted by France Football in partnership with UEFA.
A club source described it as “unfair” and “a disgrace” that Vinícius wouldn’t win the award. By choosing not to attend the ceremony, they see it as a form of protest, refusing to travel to avoid what another club source views as “a historic robbery.”
Vinícius netted 15 goals in La Liga last season and added six more in the Champions League, including goals in Madrid’s semifinal victory over Bayern Munich and in the final against Borussia Dortmund.
In recent weeks, there was a strong belief in Madrid that the forward was set to win the award.
“I think he’ll win it,” Ancelotti said last week.
Vinícius would have become the first Brazilian to win the men’s Ballon d’Or since Kaká in 2007.
Lionel Messi won the 2023 Ballon d’Or, marking his eighth victory, while in 2022, Madrid’s Karim Benzema claimed the award.
Vinícius netted a second-half hat trick in Madrid’s 5-2 Champions League comeback against Dortmund last week before playing in a tough 4-0 loss to Barcelona in Saturday’s Clásico.
During the summer, Vinícius scored twice for Brazil in the Copa America, with both goals coming in a 4-1 victory over Paraguay. However, he faced challenges throughout the tournament as Brazil was knocked out by Uruguay in the quarterfinals.
Rodri played a pivotal role in City’s 2023-24 Premier League title and went on to shine for Spain during their triumphant run at Euro 2024.
Ex-Barcelona Star: Real Madrid ‘Scared’ of Flick’s Barca
Former Barcelona star Thierry Henry shared his belief that Real Madrid is currently ‘scared’ of their archrivals Barcelona.
This comes after Hansi Flick’s side easily defeated the reigning Spanish champions in the first Clásico of the season over the weekend.
After traveling to the Santiago Bernabéu for a crucial top-of-the-table La Liga clash, Barcelona dominated the match, securing a commanding 4-0 victory.
The result sent shockwaves throughout Spanish football, with many seeing it as a sign of a shift in power at the top of the country’s football hierarchy.
One person who is certain that a change in mentality occurred behind the scenes in Madrid this past Saturday is Thierry Henry.
In the aftermath of El Clásico, former Barcelona striker Henry spoke to the media about the shifting balance of power in La Liga:
‘European teams fear Real Madrid and Real Madrid now fear Barca.’
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