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AS Roma defender and Borussia Dortmund legend Mats Hummels has voiced his thoughts on Real Madrid’s absence from the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony.
He referred to this absence as “slightly Trumpian,” implying a sense of arrogance or self-importance associated with the decision.
During an episode of his podcast, Hummels expressed his disappointment regarding Real Madrid not attending the event, where Manchester City midfielder Rodri was awarded the title of the best footballer for the previous season.
Hummels highlighted that Real Madrid’s absence is indicative of a lack of respect towards other players and teams. “It is simply a lack of respect towards others,” he said.
SOMEONE from Real Madrid was deserving
He noted that their choice not to attend seemed to come from the fact that a player from their club did not win the prestigious award.
Hummels emphasized that this behaviour is not only detrimental to the spirit of the ceremony but also undermines the achievements of other outstanding footballers.
He stated that there are numerous exceptional players deserving of recognition, and failing to honour them reflects poorly on the club.
The defender pointed out that many teams face greater challenges in international competitions than Real Madrid, suggesting that their accomplishments should be celebrated regardless of individual awards.
He made it clear that there is no denying the talent within Real Madrid; however, it is equally important to acknowledge and respect the achievements of other players who contribute significantly to the sport.
“There’s no doubt that someone at Real Madrid deserved it. But there are other fantastic players who are very good.
“Not doing them the honour is a bad thing. There were teams that were at a bigger disadvantage in international football, let me put it this way,” he concluded.
