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Real Madrid officials are reportedly planning to skip the Ballon d’Or awards for the second consecutive year, once again stirring controversy around the celebrated event.
The division that started last year remains unresolved, as reported by AS, prompting the Spanish club to leave their assigned spots at the opulent Theatre du Châtelet in Paris vacant on Monday night.
Ahead of the 2024 awards, Real Madrid shocked the football community by boycotting the event last minute after discovering that Manchester City’s Rodri would claim the coveted individual honor instead of their player Vinicius Jr.
Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr are among those nominated for the men’s award, while the club’s Scottish player Caroline Weir is a contender for the women’s top honor.
Nonetheless, as Xabi Alonso’s team is set to play against Levante in LaLiga on Tuesday night, it’s expected that the three male nominees will skip the prestigious ceremony. However, Weir is more likely to be present.
Real Madrid officials, including Florentino Perez, are expected to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday night
Madrid boycotted the 2024 awards after learning Rodri (left) beat their winger Vinicius Jr (right) to the coveted prize
Dean Huijsen, Thibaut Courtois, and Linda Caicedo are also up for awards, but seemingly set to follow the boycott.
Madrid’s grievances with UEFA linger, particularly over overlooking Vinicius for the major award in 2024. At that time, they accused the organizers, in partnership with France Football for the awards, of lacking respect for them.
The club told AFP: ‘If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.
‘As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.’
It led to an awkward moment in which no one turned up to collect the title of best men’s club, which Madrid had won after securing their 15th Champions League title. Meanwhile, former boss Carlo Ancelotti won Coach of the Year and gave his acceptance speech via video.
Seats which had been reserved for Ballon d’Or finalists Vinicius and his teammate Jude Bellingham and others also had to be hastily reallocated and the nameplates removed.
The Brazilian forward ‘Vini’ then defiantly posted on X: ‘I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.’
However, after a far from impressive 2024-25 campaign, he is far from the favourite to take home the crown this time around.
Los Blancos also failed to collect their Club of the Year award at the ceremony last year
PSG winger Ousmane Dembele is the bookies favourite to win the Ballon d’Or this year
Ousmane Dembele is the leading candidate to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday night, according to bookmakers, and this time around, Madrid players do not seem to have a problem with one of their own missing out.
Mbappe, who is up for the award himself, even admitted he would ‘deliver it’ to Dembele’s house if it were up to him.
The Frenchman may just have to do that, given that the PSG star will also have to miss the ceremony due to his side’s big Ligue 1 clash with rivals Marseille being pushed back to Monday night after serious storms on Sunday.
Dembele had the season of his life last term, notching up a mammoth 43 goal contributions as Luis Enrique’s side secured a historic treble, which included the club’s first-ever Champions League triumph.
The France international’s closest rival for the famous award is believed to be Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, while Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is also in the mix.
Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay was a shock inclusion on this year’s list, after a stellar first season at Napoli. The likes of Florian Wirtz and Viktor Gyokeres also made the cut, but have slim hopes of claiming the prize.
England’s Euros hero Michelle Agyemang made the cut for the Women’s Kopa Trophy, while Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dean Huijsen joined the likes of Yamal and Desire Doue on the men’s shortlist after breakout Premier League seasons.
Hannah Hampton, whose European Championship penalty heroics helped England retain their trophy, is shortlisted for the Women’s Yachine Trophy for the best goalkeeper award.
Meanwhile, Alisson, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and back-to-back winner Emiliano Martinez made the men’s list.
When it comes to the Women’s Coach of the Year award, Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman made the list, with Antonio Conte, Hansi Flick, Luis Enrique, and Arne Slot among the men’s nominees.
Arsenal are favourites to win the Women’s Club of the Year after being shortlisted, with Liverpool, Barcelona, and PSG among the men’s candidates.
