Real Madrid was named the best club but was missing from the Ballon d’Or ceremony

Organized by France Football, the awards are based on the vote of a jury of journalists from the top 100 nations in the Fifa rankings.

Each journalist selects 10 players from a list of 30 nominees and ranks them in order from 10th to first.

The first players receive 15 points, while the rest of the top 10 receive 12, 10, eight, seven, five, four, three, two and one point.

The player with the highest score after voting receives the Ballon d’Or.

In previous editions, the winner was announced a few days before the ceremony, but the organizers decided to keep the identity of the winner secret this year.

“Nobody knew at Real or City,” France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia told French newspaper L’Equipe. , external

“The emotions that Rodri had on stage, that is the best answer. He wasn’t aware of anything.”

“I had a lot of pressure from Real Madrid, but like other clubs, I was always clear and fair. Maybe my silence made them change their minds.”

Garcia said all clubs had been informed that the winner would not be announced before the ceremony and he questioned whether Real’s decision to be absent was “an element of bluff”.

“It was a close win, not much was decided,” Garcia said.

“Vinicius probably suffered from the presence of Bellingham and Carvajal in the top five because mathematically it meant losing a few points.”

Rodri, the first Premier League winner since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, said: “It’s their decision.”

“They have decided not to come and we have to accept that. I concentrate on my club. I will go and celebrate this award with them.”