Real Madrid President Blasts Ballon d’Or Voting After Rodri’s Victory
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has fiercely criticized the Ballon d’Or process after Manchester City star Rodri claimed the prestigious award last month, edging out Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.
Perez doubled down on his belief that the award should have gone to a Real Madrid player, alleging that UEFA altered the voting system. His remarks came during Madrid’s annual general meeting, where he addressed the club’s decision to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Despite winning Men’s Club of the Year and seeing manager Carlo Ancelotti take home the Johan Cruyff Trophy for Men’s Coach of the Year, no representatives from Real Madrid attended the event.
Perez did not hold back:
“The award was organized by UEFA for the first time. Rodri is a great footballer (there is applause in the room) and also from Madrid. He has all our affection. But that has nothing to do with it. It’s obvious that this year it should have gone to a Real Madrid player, whatever criteria were applied—whether it was Vinicius, our captain Carvajal, or Bellingham. It’s very difficult to explain the final result.”
The Real Madrid president accused UEFA of manipulating the process:
“UEFA has altered the voting system and the points each journalist can allocate. Journalists who nobody knows and from countries with less than a million inhabitants have participated. Without the votes of four of them—Finland, Albania, Uganda, and Namibia—Vinicius would have won. Some didn’t even include him in the top 10! At least the Finnish journalist has resigned. Well, look, I appreciate that.”
Perez insisted that the Ballon d’Or should remain independent and uphold its integrity:
“I think the Ballon d’Or has to be independent, and the voters must represent prestige. Real Madrid considered it appropriate not to attend the gala because of all this.”
The controversy underscores Real Madrid’s frustration at seeing their star players overlooked, with Perez rallying behind the likes of Vinicius Jr., Dani Carvajal, and Jude Bellingham as more deserving candidates for the coveted prize.
