Some silences speak louder than words. A clear example unfolded on Thursday, August 7, 2025, when France Football, as it does every year, revealed the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded on September 22 in Paris. Despite having three candidates, Vinícius, Kylian Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid refrained from celebrating the news as it usually does.

In previous years, the club has always devoted space on its website, social media platforms, and even Real Madrid TV to such announcements, whether for the Ballon d’Or or other prestigious honors like the Kopa Trophy (best player under 21), the Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), or the Best Club of the Season award. Last year, Vinícius, Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Mbappé (freshly signed at the time), Federico Valverde, Antonio Rüdiger, and Toni Kroos were all shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or, while Arda Güler and Andriy Lunin earned nominations in their respective categories.

This year, however, the club has opted for complete silence, a decision deeply rooted in the events of the previous edition. In 2024, Vinícius Junior was widely tipped to win, but just hours before the gala, both the club and the player received communications stating that Rodri would be announced as the winner. The news sparked a decisive reaction: Real Madrid chose not to travel to Paris.

The disappointment and outrage within the club were immense. On October 28, they issued a blunt statement declaring, “At this moment, the Ballon d’Or no longer exists for us.” The team even canceled a nearly five-hour live special planned on RMTV for the ceremony.

Ironically, only two months later, Vinícius Junior was crowned Best Player of 2024, this time through FIFA’s The Best award, which was personally presented to him by Gianni Infantino in Doha.

When asked about his absence in Paris, Real Madrid’s number 7 referred instead to the FIFA accolade, highlighting the effort it took to become the best in the world. His words echoed the club’s stance: for Real Madrid, winning The Best holds the same financial value as winning the Ballon d’Or. Player contracts grant identical bonuses for either award.

Now, almost a year later, the question lingers: will the same scenario repeat on September 22, 2025? In 2024, the club even won Team of the Year, yet no one attended to collect the trophy.

With only three players nominated this time after a disappointing season, signs suggest that no Real Madrid representatives will be walking the red carpet at Paris’ Théâtre du Châtelet.

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