Striker Vivian Miedema believes that the Ballon d’Or treats women’s and men’s players differently.
The 26-year-old slammed the ceremony and spoke out about how the nominated star described Beth Meade as her guest.
It would never have happened to Messi and Neymar, Miedema tells the BBC.
Spouses Vivian Miedema, 26, and Beth Mead, 27, play together at Arsenal. They joined the Ballon d’Or ceremony earlier this year in each other’s company.
This is when Mead was not recognized.
Despite being nominated for FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, he finished second, Meade was described as Miedema’s guest star in a red carpet photo caption.
Something Miedema says they later laughed at, but shows a lack of respect for women’s football, the BBC writes.
– This is an example of the problem. She says it is clear that it would never have happened if Messi and Neymar were walking next to each other.
“I didn’t feel appreciated”
Miedema also talks about her experience of being there during the Ballon d’Or.
– I didn’t feel appreciated there. If they want women to participate, they need to do it differently.
The 26-year-old slammed the awards handing out at the ceremony.
– They have five or six different prices for men, while women only have one price. If they want to make it equal, they should give the same prizes to men as women.
Alexia Potellas won her second consecutive Ballon d’Or this year. On the men’s side, Karim Benzema took home the award.