Real Madrid to boycott Ballon d'Or again as Vinicius snub fuels rift

Real Madrid are set to boycott the Ballon d'Or ceremony for the second year in a row, keeping the club at odds with the awards process and with the organizers over the Vinicius Jr snub last year. The decision will see Madrid not occupying their designated seats at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday, while four Madrid nominees are still allowed to attend if they wish. Florentino Perez and other senior officials are not expected to attend, though the club has given permission for the players to attend the ceremony if they choose.

The rift stems from last year when Madrid abruptly pulled out after learning that Manchester City’s Rodri would win the Ballon d'Or instead of Vinicius Jr. The club argued the award criteria did not respect Vinicius, and its leadership suggested that if the same criteria did not point to Vinicius as the winner, they should point to other Madrid players such as Carvajal. Madrid publicly questioned the relationship between the Ballon d'Or and UEFA and claimed that Real Madrid was not respected by the organizers. An awkward moment followed when none of Madrid's representatives collected the award for best men's club, which Madrid had won, while Carlo Ancelotti accepted the Coach of the Year prize via video.

In the latest cycle, Vinicius Jr remains a central figure of the club’s past controversy, but Madrid has largely kept its distance from the ceremony as Xabi Alonso’s side prepare for a La Liga match against Levante the following evening. The four Madrid nominees for the men and women this year are still on the ballot, but the likelihood of Madrid officials attending the ceremony remains uncertain. The club would rather focus on defending their domestic title and competing in Europe than participate in a ceremony they view as not fully honoring their values at this time.

On the ballot for the men, Dembele of PSG is viewed as the bookmakers’ favorite to win the Ballon d'Or after a stellar season that produced a high-volume contribution total. Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr are also nominated, while Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah are among the other leading contenders. Dembele’s case is bolstered by a season that helped PSG secure domestic and continental silverware, though a clash with Marseille has complicated attendance for some players, with Marseille’s clash rescheduled to Monday night after storms. Mbappe has even joked that he would deliver the award to Dembele if he could decide the outcome. The contest also features other notable names such as Florian Wirtz, Viktor Gyokeres, and Scott McTominay, who pared into the mix after standout seasons in Europe.

In the women’s field, Caroline Weir is among the contenders for the main prize, while the men’s shortlist includes a blend of established stars and emerging talents. Hannah Hampton is among the goalkeepers shortlisted for the Women’s Yachine Trophy, recognizing the best female goalkeeper. The expanded lists emphasize the depth of talent across Europe and underscore the broader debate about how the Ballon d'Or criteria are applied to recognize both team and individual achievements.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled for Monday night at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, a venue that has twice become a focal point for Real Madrid's ongoing disagreement with the event organizers. Madrid’s absence underscores a broader pattern in the club’s relationship with European football governance, especially after Vinicius Jr’s snub in 2024. As the ceremony unfolds, Real Madrid will be hoping to maintain momentum in their campaigns while continuing to contest the optics and criteria of football’s most celebrated individual award.