I cannot be the only football fan who finds the annual Ballon d'Or ceremony an over expensive, glitzy night of gratuitous self indulgence and pointless, irrelevant, back slapping for people who quite frankly have already had enough smoke blown by journalists who have long forgotten how to write something new and relevant.
The 2024 ceremony was certainly something new and different though, and whilst organisers France Football may not like it, the night proved what the vast majority of football fans have long thought about the prestigious awards - they actually have nothing to do with the 'beautiful game' at all, it is all about massaging bloated egos.
This years massively bloated ego was Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid who threw their toys completely out of the pram because Vinicius Jnr was rumoured not to have won the 'best men's player' award. He was ultimately beaten by Manchester City defensive midfielder, and Spanish European Championship winner, Rodri.
Incomplete wagering requirements are one of the most often seen reasons casinos impose when you can't withdraw your winnings. CasinoAlpha's guide explains that a $20 bonus requires a $500 wagering pot, if the terms state a 25x wager, and unless you have completed or gone over that amount, you won't be able to cashout.
However, this had not stopped Los Blancos from refusing to turn up to the event stating that they would not go where they are 'not respected', despite being named 'club of the year' and having both manager Carlos Ancelotti and striker Kylian Mbappe lifting individual awards.
Their arrogance here actually has little to do with Vinicius Jnr not lifting the main prize, as they also claimed that had he not won, then team mate Dani Carvajal had been rudely overlooked, as he should have won it instead, and given he did not that left Real feeling disrespected.
Given that they have dominated the award along with rivals Barcelona for longer than I can remember, maybe they are admitting that they have been unfairly, and lazily, over respected in former years, and that shock horror, teams and players outside of the Santiago Bernabeu have also been known to exist in the worldwide game.
Many fans will find it funny how UEFA also get a disrespect namecheck, but they will be forgiven for wondering if Real Madrid are still feeling slighted after they were left in a now redundant two team European Super League.
I suppose, they may have a point. The 100 journalists who rank their individual top ten players on a falling scoring ratchet, could have all conspired against poor old Real Madrid to ensure Vinicius came second, with Jude Bellingham third, and Dani Carvajal following up. Seems plausible does it not?
I wonder what sour grapes is in Spanish?
