Ballon d'or: Real Madrid says "No" once again | OneFootball

Florentino Perez

Real Madrid stands firm on its Ballon d'Or position. Here’s the full story.

In less than two weeks, the 2025 Ballon d'Or gala will take place in Paris. But before then, the trophy organizers and Real Madrid remain at odds. It all began last year when Real took it poorly that Vinicius was not crowned after his outstanding season. The Brazilian was a top favorite, and few would have bet on Rodri, who ultimately walked away with the award.

The Madrid club therefore decided to boycott last year’s gala as a sign of protest against the organizers and the voting system. And to this day, resentment still lingers within the Real Madrid hierarchy. For them, the Ballon d'Or no longer exists.

France Football seeks to ease tensions

All signs indicate that, once again this year, no Real Madrid delegation will travel to Paris on September 22. There has been no official confirmation from the club regarding its absence from the gala, but it seems highly unlikely that Real Madrid will attend the ceremony. In recent days, France Football—the publication behind the award—has tried to smooth things over with Florentino Perez.

According to Marca, a delegation from the French outlet visited Madrid recently to open dialogue with Real and attempt to mend fences, but discussions did not yield any progress. It’s worth noting that this year, Real Madrid boasts three Ballon d'Or nominees: Mbappé, Vinicius, and Bellingham. Caroline Weir is also in contention in the women’s category. Huijsen is nominated for the Kopa Trophy, while Thibaut Courtois is in the running for the Yashin Award. These nominations, unlike in previous years, haven’t even been mentioned on Real’s official channels.