Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti and his players will skip tonight's The Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris to focus on Thursday's cup encounter against Barcelona.
The reigning European and Spanish champions want no distractions going into the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Ancelotti's side are preparing for the home match of the two-legged semi-final against their rivals as if it is a final so are concentrating on their preparations for Thursday's game.
The club also do not consider it appropriate to attend such an event after only managing to draw 1-1 with city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid's decision was made by club officials but has been fully accepted by the players and Ancelotti's coaching team.
The club, however, do not want their decision to skip the ceremony to be seen as a disrespectful gesture towards FIFA.
Real Madrid's director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueno, is expected to attend, as is club ambassador Roberto Carlos, who has been personally invited by FIFA in a celebration of the game's legendary figures.
Thibaut Courtois, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema are all expected to be named in the FIFPRO XI, while Antonio Rudiger and Fede Valverde will miss out despite their nominations.
Real Madrid were left surprised and disappointed by Vinicius Junior's omission from the nomination long list, which includes 26 players.
Ancelotti stated his unhappiness at the decision to leave Vinicius Jr out, insisting FIFA had made a mistake.
“I don't know the list, but the fact that Vinicius is not on it seems strange to me,” said Ancelotti. “I think it was a mistake.”
Vinicius Jr has starred for Real Madrid and Brazil this season, scoring 19 goals in 43 appearances.
Real Madrid's decision to stay away from the ceremony suggests their players and Ancelotti have failed to win any of the individual awards.
Sources close to the club have admitted that the effort to travel to Paris would have been made if there were any winners among their contingent.
Benzema is competing with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe for the FIFA Best men's player award, while Courtois is up against Morocco's Yassine Bounou and Argentina's Emiliano Martinez to be named the best goalkeeper.
Ancelotti is up against Pep Guardiola and Lionel Scaloni for the FIFA Best men's coach award.
(Photo: Getty Images)