Hummels Criticizes Real Madrid's Trump-like Reaction to Ballon d'Or Loss

Roma defender, Mats Hummels, has openly criticized Real Madrid for their decision to boycott the prestigious Ballon d'Or gala held in Paris.

The event, which celebrates the best football talents globally, saw Manchester City's Rodri crowned as the winner. However, Real Madrid, despite being the reigning La Liga and Champions League champions, chose not to attend, a move Hummels found disrespectful.

Hummels, speaking on his podcast "Alleine ist schwer," drew a parallel between Real Madrid's actions and those of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

He remarked, “Using the words ‘lack of respect’ for not winning an election is a bit Trump-like, and unfortunately it’s disrespectful to others.”

This comparison highlights what Hummels perceives as a lack of sportsmanship from the Spanish club.

While acknowledging that Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior was a strong contender for the award, Hummels emphasized that Rodri was equally deserving, having been one of the top players in the previous season.

He stated, “There’s no question that someone from Real would have been a deserving winner. But there are other amazing players who are just as good. And to not honour them is really bad.”