Real MadridParis players failed to show up at Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris after star striker Vinicius Jr. was beaten to the first prize by Manchester City and Spanish midfielder Rodri.

The Real Madrid delegation canceled its trip to Monday evening ceremony at the last minute when the “leaked results” of the prestigious prize showed that Rodri received the most votes ahead of Vinicius and Jude Bellingham.

Real Madrid was beaten 4-0 by rivals Barcelona Saturday evening Clasico and there was a total blackout of the club’s social media posts during the Ballon d’Or with no acknowledgment of the ceremony.

Brazil international Vinicius Jr has long been seen as the favorite to win the Ballon d’Or after playing a leading role in the club’s Champions League and La Liga titles last season, but the 24-year-old finished second in the general vote.

Instead, Rodri became the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or after the 28-year-old was named player of the tournament at this summer’s European Championships and helped Manchester City win a fourth Premier League consecutive.

Rodri, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury, follows Lionel Messi in becoming only the fifth different player to win the individual award since 2007 – with the majority of those awards being claimed by Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real Madrid had planned to travel to Paris for the ceremony until it emerged that Vinicius would not receive the top prize. This means that although Real Madrid were named men’s club of the year after winning a 15th European Cup and a 36th Spanish league title, there was person from the club to receive the prize and the ceremony quickly continued.

Similarly, Kylian Mbappe was named co-recipient of the Gerd Muller Trophy with Harry Kane, but was not present when the England striker took to the stage for an interview and video montage.

Perhaps even more embarrassing, Ballon d’Or host Didier Drogba clearly expected Carlo Ancelloti to be present to receive the Coach of the Year award, but the Italian coach also joined to the boycott of his Real Madrid team.

Voting for the Ballon d’Or is determined by a panel of journalists from the top 100 countries ranked by Fifa and Rodri was emotional when he received the historic award at the Théâtre du Châtelet. Rodri was helped onto stage on crutches due to his knee injury.

“I have so many things to thank people for,” he said on stage. “First of all to France Football and UEFA for giving me this award. I would like to thank those who voted for me and who placed their trust in me. Today is a very special day for me and for my family, my country.

“I would like to thank the most important person in the world to me, my girlfriend Laura. Today is our anniversary and without her things wouldn’t have been the same. THANKS.

“And my family too, of course. The values ​​they taught me and everything they represent in me, for teaching me the right actions to take and for helping me become the man I am…

“I don’t want to forget my teammates, I understand that it’s a group match. Manchester City is so special, I know I couldn’t do it without you. For me, it’s the best club in the world and thanks to them, things go much more smoothly.

“The national team and Luis (de la Fuente, coach), for trusting me for so long, I have to mention my teammates with whom we won the Euro. It’s not just for me but for Spanish football.

Another star player absent from the ceremony was Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who instead traveled to Sweden to watch former club Malmö win the championship.

Haaland, who finished runner-up in the Ballon d’Or last season, made the trip to Malmö ahead of their match against rivals IFK Gothenburg, where a victory sealed their second consecutive Allsvenskan title and fourth in five years .