Real Madrid is poised to stage a second consecutive boycott of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, extending their protest against award organizers France Football.
Real Madrid Set to Boycott Ballon d’Or Ceremony for Second Consecutive Year
The club’s decision comes after failed reconciliation attempts between the two parties, continuing a rift that began last year.
The Spanish giants initially boycotted the 2024 ceremony when midfielder Rodri won the award over their preferred candidate, Vinícius Júnior.
Real Madrid officials, players, and staff—including manager Carlo Ancelotti—refused to attend the event despite winning multiple awards.
With the 2025 ceremony scheduled for September 22 in Paris, tensions remain high. France Football recently sent delegates to Madrid hoping to repair relations, but meetings ended unsuccessfully.
As a result, no representatives from Real Madrid are expected at this month’s event.
The club maintains that the award criteria disrespects their players.
President Florentino Perez previously criticized journalists from certain countries for their voting patterns and called for more transparent processes involving “prestigious people with a reputation in the football world”.
Despite having three nominees—Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham—Real Madrid’s absence will likely overshadow the ceremony.
None are considered frontrunners for this year’s award, which is expected to go to either Ousmane Dembele or Lamine Yamal.
This ongoing boycott highlights deepening tensions between football’s most prestigious individual award and its most successful club, setting a notable precedent for future ceremonies.
