The awards, organised by France Football, are based on voting by a panel of journalists from the top 100 Fifa-ranked nations.

Each journalist selects 10 players from a list of 30 nominees, placing them in order from 10th to first.

Players in first receive 15 points, with 12, 10, eight, seven, five, four, three, two and one points being awarded to the rest of the top 10.

The player with the highest number of points after voting is awarded the Ballon d’Or.

In previous editions the winner has been revealed a few days before the ceremony, but organisers chose to keep the winner’s identity a secret this year.

“No-one knew at Real or at City,” Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football, told French newspaper L’Equipe. , external

“The emotion that Rodri had on stage, that is the best answer. He was not aware of anything.

“I had a lot of pressure from Real Madrid but, as with other clubs, I was always clear and fair. Maybe my silence made them change their minds.”

Garcia said all clubs were notified that the winner would not be announced before the ceremony and he questioned whether Real’s decision to be absent had “an element of bluffing”.

“It was a close victory, it wasn’t decided by much,” Garcia said.

“Vinicius probably suffered from the presence of Bellingham and Carvajal in the top five because, mathematically, it took away a few points.”

Rodri, the first Premier League-based winner since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, said: “It is their decision.

“They have decided not to come and we have to accept that. I am focusing on my club. I will go and celebrate this award with them.”