The recent Ballon d'Or Gala not only celebrated the world's best footballers, but also highlighted the tensions between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Madrid's defeat in last weekend's El Clásico was still reverberating, and what happened at the gala only fueled those flames.
The Defeat of Real Madrid and Vinícius
Real Madrid arrived at the Ballon d'Or ceremony burdened by a recent defeat against their eternal rival. This result left a mark on the spirit of the team and its fans. The celebration of Spanish soccer's success wasn't entirely pleasant for the Madridistas. They felt that the defeat was a topic that shouldn't have been brought up at the ceremony.
Madrid's no-show at the gala was a clear sign of their discontent. The absence of the Merengues at such an important event only reinforced the idea that the atmosphere wasn't leading to celebration. Real Madrid didn't attend the gala to support Vinícius, who didn't win the Ballon d'Or.
The Mockery of the Barça Players
During the gala, the official FC Barcelona account shared a video where players Dani Olmo, Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal posed with the renowned actress Natalie Portman. In the images, the actress made the "number 4" gesture with her fingers. She was alluding to the four goals Barça scored against Madrid in their last match.
The atmosphere was festive, with laughter and jokes between the players as they recalled the thrashing Madrid received. This gesture, which might have seemed harmless to some, was considered as blatant mockery by many Madrid fans.
The Reaction of Madridistas
The reaction of Real Madrid fans didn't take long. Social media was filled with comments of disapproval and anger at what they considered a lack of respect on the part of the Barça players.
Many Real Madrid fans criticized the attitude of the Catalans. They stressed that, although soccer is a competitive sport, there are lines that should not be crossed. The rivalry between the two clubs is intense, but this kind of taunts could be taking the tension to a higher level.
Vinícius Explodes
Vinícius Júnior, one of Real Madrid's stars, didn't attend the gala and didn't receive the Ballon d'Or either. His absence and silence towards his teammate are signs of a latent discontent.
However, despite not being present, Vinícius left a message on his Twitter account that didn't go unnoticed. Although he didn't refer directly to the gestures of the Barça players, his words resonated in a context of frustration.
His message was interpreted as a response to the mocking tone of the Barça celebration and many fans saw it as support for the team.