Ballon d'Or: 'There is something between Real Madrid and UEFA' - Former Los Blancos star declares

Real Madrid's absence from the Ballon d'Or ceremony has sparked controversy, with former AC Milan and Real Madrid star Clarence Seedorf suggesting a deeper issue between the club and UEFA.

Seedorf commented, "It seems that there is something between Real Madrid and UEFA that seems to be unresolved. The problems between Real Madrid and UEFA should be kept outside of these matters. It's a shame."

While Real Madrid did claim the Team of the Year award and Carlo Ancelotti was named Men's Coach of the Year, the club's absence from the ceremony was a notable snub.

Seedorf was not alone in his criticism of the Ballon d'Or results. Numerous football pundits and fans have expressed their disappointment with the final rankings, questioning the criteria and the overall fairness of the awards.

Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr reacted to losing the Ballon d'Or to Manchester City's Rodri.

Convincing he deserved the award, Vinicius expressed his disappointment in a Twitter post, pledging to elevate his performance to secure the trophy in future editions. “I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready,” he shared on X.

France Football revealed their 30-man list, with Rodri leading after winning the Premier League and European Championships, followed by Vinicius in second and Jude Bellingham in third.