Real Madrid resumes Ballon d’Or coverage after last year’s boycott

Real Madrid has ended its silence on the Ballon d’Or, officially acknowledging the 2026 nominees after refusing to engage with the award last year.

The Spanish club published a report on its official website and social media accounts confirming that Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Marc Cucurella had been included in the 30-player shortlist for the prize, presented by France Football.

In its announcement, Real Madrid said: “Kylian Mbappe, Vini Jr, Bellingham and Cucurella are among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, presented by France Football. The nominees were selected based on their performances during the 2025-26 season.”

The decision marks a clear change in approach from last year, when Real Madrid deliberately avoided any involvement with the ceremony or the surrounding coverage. The club did not publish news about its players who appeared on the 30-man shortlist, won eventually by Ousmane Dembele, and made no public comment on the final results.

Real Madrid’s stance followed the controversy surrounding the 2024 award. Rodri Hernandez won the prize ahead of Vinicius Junior, despite the Brazilian winger having helped Real Madrid secure both the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League during the 2023-24 season.

The result prompted an angry boycott by Real Madrid’s delegation. Club representatives decided not to travel to Paris after learning that Vinicius Junior would not receive the award.

The reaction inside the club was described as one of deep disappointment and anger, with Real Madrid believing the outcome had been unfair. On 28 October 2024, the club made its position clear, stating: “At this moment, the Ballon d’Or no longer exists for us.”

Real Madrid also cancelled a special media programme scheduled to run for about five hours on its official channel, RMTV, which had been planned to mark the event.

That decision meant the club maintained complete silence throughout the previous Ballon d’Or process, even though several of its players were among the leading candidates. Its refusal to acknowledge the shortlist or the final outcome became one of the defining aspects of the 2024 ceremony.

The publication of the 2026 nominees therefore represents a return to official communication about the award. Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Bellingham are all Real Madrid players, while Cucurella is also included among the candidates after his performances during the 2025-26 campaign.

The developments have renewed discussion around Real Madrid’s relationship with the Ballon d’Or, with the club now once again connecting itself publicly to the competition after a year-long boycott. Fans can discuss the issue and related news in greater depth on the Kooora forums.