Carlo Ancelotti made decision for Real Madrid to skip Ballon d'Or award ceremony - Reports

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti reportedly decided that the club won't attend the 2024 Ballon d'Or award ceremony on Monday (October 28) in Paris. The event saw Manchester City midfielder Rodri beat Madrid's Vinicius to the coveted award.

Hours before the award ceremony in the French capital, there were reports that the Vinicius entourage knew that the player won't win the award. Los Blancos subsequently decided to skip the event, where they were adjudged the UEFA Men's Club of the Year.

"If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner," Los Blancos told AFP and Spanish media (as per the BBC).

"As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d'Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected."

COPE (as per Managing Madrid) has said that Ancelotti - who was adjudged the Best Manager of the Year on Monday - made the decision to boycott the Ballon d'Or ceremony as a mark of support to Vinicius for his snub. The report, though, added that Madrid's decision wasn't a protest about Rodri's win.

Meanwhile, Vincent Garcia, the editor in chief of France Football - who awards the Ballon d'Or - dismissed suggestions that the winner was known beforehand, telling L'Equipe (as per the BBC):

"No-one knew at Real or at City, The emotion that Rodri had on stage; that is the best answer. He was not aware of anything. I had a lot of pressure from Real Madrid, but, as with other clubs, I was always clear and fair. Maybe my silence made them change their minds."

He added:

"It was a close victory; it wasn't decided by much. Vinicius probably suffered from the presence of Bellingham and Carvajal in the top five because, mathematically, it took away a few points."

While Vinicius helped Los Blancos win the La Liga-UEFA Champions League last season, Rodri won a fourth straight Premier League title and the Euros with Spain.

---

Manchester City boss offers his take on Real Madrid skipping the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony

Manchester City boss Peo Guardiola

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has said that it was up to Real Madrid whether they wanted to attend the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony in the French capital on Monday.

The Spaniard - whose compatriot became the first Ballon d'Or winner from the Premier League since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 - said (as per Mundo Deportivo (via Madrid Universal):

“I have nothing to say. If they don’t want to go, they don’t go. If they don’t want to congratulate, they don’t congratulate. That’s fine. Manchester City are not here to judge what other clubs decide or what they have to do and where."

About Vinicius missing out, Guardiola added:

“It’s the journalists who decide what they have to do. It’s the journalists who decide what they have to do. It’s not a vote of just one country, but of the whole world. There are different opinions all over the world. That’s why football is so beautiful.”

Rodri's Spanish compatriot Aitana Bonmati won the Ballon d'Or for the best women's player.