Rodri and Harry Kane lead footy stars and Wags arriving for Ballon d’Or ceremony

FOOTBALL'S biggest stars arrived in style at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris on Monday night... amid controversy over Real Madrid's boycott.

Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, 28, was pictured on crutches as he made his way down the red card with partner Laura Iglesias.

The Euro 2024 winner, who is nursing an ACL injury, is expected to pick up the men's top prize ahead of Real Madrid pair Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.

Real Madrid have confirmed nobody from the club will be present at the ceremony after they accused organisers and Uefa of "not respecting" the 15-time European champions.

But the Parisian event was still littered with a host of star names as they headed into the Theatre du Chatelet.

Bayern Munich and England forward Harry Kane, one of 30 players nominated for the men's award, was in attendance as he wore a suit and bow-tie for the occasion.

Barcelona and Spain superstar Lamine Yamal was another snapped arriving.

Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho turned up with partner Eva Garcia, while Aston Villa and Argentina keeper Emi Martinez posed with wife Amanda.

Among the ex-players in attendance included ex-Barcelona, Real Madrid and Portugal star Luis Figo, Chelsea icon Didier Drogba, former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse, and Champions League legend Clarence Seedorf.

And it was not just footballers and their partners who showed up for the awards.

Hollywood A-lister Natalie Portman was another famous face at the ceremony.

The Ballon d'Or is voted for by a panel of journalists representing the top 100 nations in the Fifa rankings.

Vinicius, who scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists last season, is one of six Real Madrid stars who made the shortlist for the men's award.

He is joined by Carvajal, Bellingham, Fede Valverde, Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger.

Vinicius was the favourite to scoop the award and Rodri's expected win has led to Real Madrid boycotting the event.

They told AFP: "If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.

"As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d'Or-Uefa does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected."