Whose side did you fall on? It was the slow-burning drama of 2024, as Real Madrid and Manchester City once again came up against each other but not, this time, in a ‘Champions League derby’; instead, an individual tete-a-tete between Rodri and Vinicius Junior for the men’s Ballon d’Or crown. 

Vinicius Jr will NOT travel to Paris as Real Madrid know he will NOT win the Ballon d’Or.
“No one from Real Madrid will attend the ceremony. No Florentino Perez, no Vini Jr, no Carlo Ancelotti, no Jude Bellingham.”
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano turned awards ceremony sleuth as he shared news of Real Madrid’s sensational decision to boycott the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The biggest individual honour men’s football has to offer had reportedly been given to City’s Rodri, after a season that saw him win the Premier League and FA Cup with Manchester City, and anchor Spain to the Euro 2024 title.Vinicius, meanwhile, had won a quadruple with Real Madrid, including scoring in the UEFA Champions League final.All this came amid a backdrop of the two sides meeting in the UEFA Champions League for three seasons running – with a fourth on the way just months after the ceremony – as a .But was Madrid’s boycott sour grapes or justified frustration? Poor form or refreshing honesty? And who was on who’s side?Faultlines were quickly exposed in this ideological battle, with loyalties being revealed across countries, clubs and historical rivalries.With just over two months to go until the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, we look back on how the great and the good of the game reacted to last year’s drama.