Real Madrid has announced that they will not attend the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on September 22, meaning stars like Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham will be absent.
According to MB sources, President Florentino Pérez made the decision to “boycott” the event, mirroring the move Real took last year.
The relationship between the Spanish giants and the Ballon d’Or organizers (France Football) has been tense since the 2024 gala. Despite repeated attempts from the organizers to reconcile, Real Madrid has firmly refused to attend, claiming they are only being used as a “backdrop” for their rivals.
The rift stems from last year’s controversy, when Vinícius was widely expected to win but the award ultimately went to Manchester City’s Rodri. That decision left the entire Real Madrid camp disappointed, prompting President Florentino Pérez to cancel a flight carrying around 60 members of the club to Paris, boycotting the gala altogether.
This year, Real Madrid has three players — Mbappé, Vinícius, and Bellingham — among the 30 Ballon d’Or nominees. However, none are considered frontrunners. Instead, the spotlight has fallen on PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona’s trio of Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Raphinha, who all made major impacts in both the Champions League and La Liga.
Real Madrid’s leadership believes that Barcelona will dominate the spotlight at this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. As a result, they refuse to “sit in the audience” while their eternal rivals are celebrated.
Despite the organizers’ efforts to persuade them to change their stance, Real Madrid has remained firm. Therefore, the entire squad — including Mbappé, Bellingham, and Vinícius — will not be present in Paris on September 22.