Real Madrid to attend Ballon d’Or ceremony after two-year absence

Real Madrid will end its boycott of the Ballon d’Or ceremony when the club’s delegation attends this year’s event in London on Monday.

The Spanish club was absent from the previous two editions of the awards. The ceremony is being held in London rather than Paris, with several Real Madrid players expected to be present among the nominees.

France forward Kylian Mbappe, England midfielder Jude Bellingham, Brazil forward Vinicius Junior and Spain defender Marc Cucurella are all expected to attend. Ivory Coast player Yan Diomande is nominated for the Kopa Trophy, while Felicia Schroeder is among the nominees for the women’s Kopa Trophy.

Real Madrid began its boycott in 2024 after cancelling its delegation’s trip to Paris when the club learned that Vinicius Junior would not win the main award.

The Brazil international had been one of the leading contenders after helping Real Madrid win the Champions League and La Liga. However, the prize went to Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who now plays for Barcelona.

The nominees for the men’s Ballon d’Or are:

– Jude Bellingham – England – Real Madrid – Pau Cubarsi – Spain – Barcelona – Marc Cucurella – Spain – Real Madrid and Chelsea – Ousmane Dembele – France – Paris Saint-Germain – Luis Diaz – Colombia – Bayern Munich – Bruno Fernandes – Portugal – Manchester United – Erling Haaland – Norway – Manchester City – Gabriel Magalhaes – Brazil – Arsenal – Harry Kane – England – Bayern Munich – Achraf Hakimi – Morocco – Paris Saint-Germain – Lamine Yamal – Spain – Barcelona – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Georgia – Paris Saint-Germain – Marquinhos – Brazil – Paris Saint-Germain – Sadio Mane – Senegal – Al-Nassr – Lautaro Martinez – Argentina – Inter Milan – Kylian Mbappe – France – Real Madrid – Nuno Mendes – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Lionel Messi – Argentina – Inter Miami – Michael Olise – France – Bayern Munich – Joao Neves – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Willian Pacho – Ecuador – Paris Saint-Germain – Julian Quinones – Mexico – Al-Qadsiah – Declan Rice – England – Arsenal – Rodri – Spain – Manchester City and Barcelona – William Saliba – France – Arsenal – Dayot Upamecano – France – Bayern Munich – Vitinha – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Vinicius Junior – Brazil – Real Madrid – Fabian Ruiz – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Ferran Torres – Spain – Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona