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Former Real Madrid forward Luis Figo has stated that the Ballon d'Or "was a prestigious award," ahead of the 2024 award ceremony. Figo won the prestigious award in 2000, becoming the second-ever Portuguese player to do so after Eusebio in 1965.
Figo beat players like Zinedine Zidane, Andriy Shevchenko, and Thierry Henry to the award that year. His mantle has since been carried by Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who has racked up five Golden Balls.
However, Figo has slammed the Ballon d'Or, telling reporters on the red carpet at the event (via Yahoo Sports):
"The Ballon d'Or was a prestigious award, until today."
Figo's comments come in the wake of delegates from Real Madrid refusing to attend the ceremony after reports emerged that Manchester City's Rodri will win the award over Vinicius Jr.
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According to a Real Madrid source speaking to Spanish outlet AS, Los Blancos feel disrespected by the decision. The source told AS (via GOAL):
"If the criteria of the award do not proclaim Vinicius the winner, those same criteria must proclaim Carvajal the winner. Since this has not been the case, it is obvious that the Ballon d'Or and UEFA do not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid is not where it is not respected."
No player from Real Madrid, including Dani Carvajal, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger, or Toni Kroos has showed up at the event. Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti also did not attend the event.
Real Madrid players who have won the Ballon d'Or in the past
The most notable player to have won the Golden Ball while playing for Madrid is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese legend racked up five awards during his time Europe, with four coming during his stint at the Santiago Bernabeu.
After his last award in 2017, two Real Madrid players have clinched the Golden Ball, Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022. There have been other players who won the coveted award while wearing Los Blancos' famed white, including Alfredo di Stefano. The legend notably won two Ballons d'Or in 1957 and 1959.
Raymond Kopa won the award in 1958, while Fabio Cannavaro became the only non-German defender to win it in 2006.
