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If anyone thought this was just a spontaneous reaction that would soon be forgotten, this year's nomination list has proven otherwise: the conflict between the Spanish Royal team and the most prestigious award in football is still simmering, even taking on the appearance of a long-lasting "cold war".
Tinder from Paris
Last October, just hours before the awards ceremony, news leaked that Vinicius Jr. had lost to Rodri in the Ballon d’Or race. For Real Madrid, this was not only sad news, but also a blow to their pride. They immediately canceled their flight to Paris, leaving the entire team in Madrid, as a public boycott.
The reaction was not impulsive. In the context of UEFA's first collaboration with France Football to organize the Ballon d'Or, Real Madrid already had a tense relationship with the European governing body over the Super League project. And when Vinicius - an anti-racism icon, a leader on the pitch - was not honored, Madrid saw it as more than a personal failure: they saw it as a political blow.
A club spokesman at the time told AFP bluntly: “If that criterion does not allow Vinicius to win, then with the same criteria, Carvajal must win. Not happening means that the UEFA Ballon d'Or does not respect Real Madrid. And Madrid does not go anywhere that does not respect itself.”
This week, the list of 30 nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or was announced on August 7. Real Madrid is heavily represented: Bellingham, Vinicius Jr. and Mbappe in the men's category; Caroline Weir in the women's category; Dean Huijsen and Linda Caicedo in the Kopa Trophy race - honoring the best young player. In theory, this is a golden opportunity for the club to proudly show off its human resources. But absolutely not - Real Madrid's website and social networks are blank, not a single congratulatory message, not a single photo.
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Vinicius Jr missed out on the 2024 Ballon d'Or. |
Notably, Vinicius, Bellingham and Mbappe – the three most prominent names – have not mentioned anything on their personal accounts. In contrast, Weir, Huijsen and Caicedo have expressed their pride on Instagram. This difference says one thing: the boycott message comes from the club, but for players who are not deeply attached to the Madrid-UEFA “front line”, this is still a personal milestone worth sharing.
“Cold War” and the game of power
Real Madrid understand the value of the Ballon d'Or - not only in terms of prestige, but also in terms of building the brand of the player and the club. Ignoring the award is a bold move, but it is also a double-edged sword: it can reduce the influence of the stars themselves. But for President Florentino Perez, the top priority is not marketing, but affirming the position: Real Madrid will not accept any imposition or favoritism from UEFA, especially when other "wars" - such as the Super League - are still unfinished.
Last year's actions and this year's silence are therefore continuous, like a long-term campaign. Without words, just a large enough information gap, Real Madrid turns the Ballon d'Or into a "no-go zone" in its media.
In the short term, UEFA and France Football will still hold grand awards ceremonies, with global viewership and engagement not waning. But in the long term, if one of the world’s most powerful clubs continues to sit out, the trophy will struggle to retain its symbolic value. On the other hand, Real Madrid also faces a risk: ignoring the Ballon d’Or means missing out on a channel to strengthen its legacy and attract talent.
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Real Madrid President Perez lost faith in the Ballon d'Or. |
However, judging by President Perez's history, he is not afraid to "play" the long game. Real Madrid have persistently pursued the Super League for many years despite waves of protests, and this time, they are also ready to turn the Ballon d'Or into part of the political chess game in European football.
In the eyes of Real Madrid at the moment, the Ballon d'Or "does not exist". But for the rest of the football world, their absence from the award's promotional activities is clearly present - like a big question mark about the transparency and fairness of the title that any player desires. And as long as the conflict between UEFA and Real is not closed, the Vinicius 2024 story will continue to haunt the next Ballon d'Or seasons.
Source: https://znews.vn/qua-bong-vang-trong-vung-cam-cua-real-madrid-post1575254.html
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