The critical 24 hours in Paris in which the Ballon d’Or went to Rodri

“This year, for the first time, the winner will not be photographed or interviewed beforehand, as was previously the case,” France Football emphasised to the Ballon d’Or candidates since the finalists were announced back in September.

The organisers of the award aimed to prevent potential winners from declining their invitations to the gala, a situation that had occurred in the past with players like Messi and Cristiano serving as notable examples.

As a result, all finalists understood that the winner would remain a mystery until the envelope was opened. Furthermore, as reported by AS, the sports brand Nike, which represents the two main favourites, Vinicius and Rodri, prepared special golden boots for both players, indicating that they had not chosen a side in the uncertainty surrounding the outcome.

The leaks began on Sunday night

This uncertainty led Rodri, the eventual winner, to attend the gala with his family and work team, regardless of the result. His travel plans remained unchanged: he arrived in Paris on Monday at noon, rested at a well-known hotel, and approached the gala with the hope of winning the award.

Events began to unfold on Sunday night when it was rumoured at the last minute that Florentino Pérez would not travel to Paris. No compelling reason was given for his decision, other than speculation that Vinicius would not emerge as the winner. Although Rodri did not consider himself the favourite, he began to sense that he had a chance at the prize. This was more a hypothesis than a certainty: if Madrid’s president was absent in Paris and none of their players received an award, Rodri could become the top contender.

On Monday morning, two leaked lists circulated on social media, one naming Rodri as the winner and the other awarding the prize to Vinicius. Speculation regarding the outcome only fuelled further uncertainty. The final clue came at the airports: while Rodri landed in Paris without incident, Madrid opted to remain grounded, citing a lack of confidence in their chances of winning.

Despite these developments, doubts lingered throughout the day at the Théâtre du Châtelet. Rodri was cautious about getting his hopes up, even though many believed he was destined to win. He remained in the dark; no one officially informed him or his entourage about their winning status prior to the event, so he sat in his seat, waiting for the announcement.

France Football’s shift in strategy created a sense of unease and infused the craziest 24 hours of the Ballon d’Or in recent memory with uncertainty. Ultimately, Rodri emerged as the winner, while Madrid chose to stay at home, lacking sufficient confidence in their success. However, the votes were counted, and the results were definitive: the trophy was going to the Spaniard.