Real Madrid to boycott Ballon d’Or ceremony for the second year running | OneFootball

Real Madrid are set to sit out the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris later tonight, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Over the past few days, speculation has been circulating about their potential absence, and the club finally made their position known earlier today.

Los Blancos have put the decision down to a scheduling issue. Xabi Alonso’s side travel to Levante for a La Liga contest on Tuesday night and are focusing on the game.

As a result, it was considered impractical for the men’s first-team players and staff to attend the Paris ceremony just 24 hours beforehand.

However, the club has not placed any restrictions on individuals who have been nominated for awards.

Madrid players who are up for honours have been given the choice to attend the gala in the French capital or stick with the rest of Alonso’s squad.

It remains to be seen if any of the club’s biggest stars will take up the chance to attend, even with the club set to boycott the ceremony.

Three players from Alonso’s squad have been nominated for the Ballon d’Or – Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham.

Belgian shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois has also been nominated for the Yashin Trophy, while summer signing Dean Huijsen is in the running for the Kopa Trophy.

Speaking in a pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Levante, Alonso admitted that he wasn’t thinking about the ceremony.

“Tomorrow we have a match in Levante,” he said. “It’s a league game and this year we’re going for a lot of points, and every match is very important. I’m not thinking about that. Not at all.”

This will be the second year running that Madrid has decided to sit out the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

They pulled the same stunt last season when they found out that Vinicius would be pipped to the prestigious accolade by Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain talisman Ousmane Dembele are considered front-runners to be crowned the best player in the world.

Despite Mbappe’s goalscoring exploits in his debut season for Madrid, he’s more likely to finish third in this year’s rankings.