Kylian Mbappe leads Real Madrid delegation after Florentino Perez opts out of Ballon d’Or event

Real Madrid will return to the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday night, but club president Florentino Perez will not attend, according to The Athletic.

Kylian Mbappe is among the leading contenders for the men’s award, alongside Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane.

Mbappe is expected to be part of the Real Madrid delegation in the British capital after scoring twice in Sunday’s 2-1 La Liga victory over Barcelona. According to British media reports, Real Madrid’s players are fully confident that the France forward will win the Ballon d’Or.

The club’s travelling party is expected to include Emilio Butragueno, Real Madrid’s director of institutional relations, as well as Marc Cucurella and Yan Diomande, who is nominated for the Kopa Trophy for the best young player. Felicia Schroder and Mbappe are also expected to attend.

Perez’s decision means he will not be present as Real Madrid make their return to the ceremony, which is being staged in London tonight.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta, by contrast, travelled to the British capital today at the head of a 23-person delegation for the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony.