Real Madrid have indeed boycotted the Ballon d’Or, officially skipping the award ceremony for two consecutive years. The boycott began in 2024, with the core reason being strong dissatisfaction with that year’s voting result. This stance continued into 2025, and as of February 2026, Real Madrid have still shown no sign of reconciliation with the Ballon d’Or organizers.
Two Consecutive Years of Official Absence
Real Madrid’s boycott was not accidental. It followed a clear timeline and reflected a consistent official position. This was not about individual players being absent, but a collective decision made at the club level. The key details are summarized below:
| Year | Form of Boycott | Official Explanation / Key Details |
| 2024 | All travel to France cancelled; no players, coaches, or executives attended in an official club capacity | Just hours before the ceremony, the club learned that Vinícius Júnior would lose the award to Rodri. President Florentino Pérez publicly expressed dissatisfaction and cancelled all plans |
| 2025 | Once again, no official delegation; the entire men’s team absent | The club cited a scheduling conflict (an away match against Levante the next day), but the core reason was the unresolved conflict from 2024. Only women’s team player Caroline Weir (some reports mention Eduardo Camavinga) attended in a personal capacity, not representing the club |
It must be made clear that Real Madrid’s boycott targeted the club at an official level, and players were not prohibited from attending in a personal capacity.
However, in practice:
In 2024, all male Ballon d’Or nominees from Real Madrid chose not to attend
In 2025, all male nominees again stayed away
Only a few players appeared symbolically due to individual award nominations (such as Camavinga’s nomination for the Kopa Trophy). These appearances were brief, involved no interaction with senior organizers, and players left immediately after receiving awards, clearly reflecting the club’s boycott stance.
The Trigger Behind the Boycott
The 2024 Ballon d’Or vote was the key turning point that led to a complete break between Real Madrid and the award’s organizers.
That year, Real Madrid had a very strong squad, with seven male players included in the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist. Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham were widely seen as top contenders. The club had even prepared in advance by organizing a 50-person delegation, planning to travel to Paris on a private flight. Vinícius invited more than 20 family members and friends, and celebrations had already been prepared.
However, just hours before the ceremony, Real Madrid unexpectedly learned that Vinícius would lose the Ballon d’Or to Manchester City player Rodri.
This result caused strong dissatisfaction within the club. Real Madrid believed the voting was unfair and even suggested possible UEFA interference. That year, the Ballon d’Or ceremony was closely linked with UEFA’s annual awards, which led the club to suspect possible “behind-the-scenes manipulation.” In addition, leaked reports indicated that only Vinícius and Rodri had switched positions in the final rankings, further increasing distrust.
In response, Florentino Pérez immediately cancelled all arrangements, including flights, hotel bookings, and celebrations. Real Madrid TV also replaced its scheduled Ballon d’Or broadcast with a replay of a UEFA Champions League final, as a form of protest.
This marked the first time in Real Madrid’s history that the club openly boycotted the Ballon d’Or.
The Boycott Continues in 2025
In September 2025, Real Madrid officially confirmed that they would once again skip the Ballon d’Or ceremony, fully confirming their stance of a “continuous boycott.”
Although the club publicly cited a “scheduling conflict”—with an away match against Levante the following day—most observers believed the real reason was that the conflict from 2024 had not been resolved.
In reality, tensions between Real Madrid and the Ballon d’Or organizers did not ease over time, but instead continued to escalate. Florentino Pérez reportedly stated during internal meetings that the Ballon d’Or had become “a promotional tool for certain media outlets”, losing its original authority and credibility. He is also reported to have ordered that unless the voting system is reformed, Real Madrid will boycott all Ballon d’Or–related activities indefinitely.
In the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid had seven players nominated across different categories, with Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham included in the men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist. However, at the club level, Real Madrid completely ignored the event—posting no nomination news, sending no executives or coaches, and making their boycott position even clearer.
Core Controversies, Reactions, and Long-Term Impact
Core Point of Dispute
The fundamental disagreement between Real Madrid and the Ballon d’Or organizers lies in different views on voting criteria.
Real Madrid believe that voting should place greater emphasis on team achievements. As the most successful club in UEFA Champions League history, the club argues that performances in competitions such as the Champions League and La Liga should carry more weight.
In contrast, the Ballon d’Or organizer France Football insists on a “comprehensive evaluation” approach, emphasizing individual performance, influence on matches, statistical impact, and sporting integrity, rather than team trophies alone.
Using 2024 as an example, the organizers explained that Rodri won the award because he played a decisive role in Manchester City’s quadruple-winning season and Spain’s European Championship victory. As a defensive midfielder, his contribution is difficult to measure through statistics alone and is considered highly valuable.
Real Madrid, however, argue that Vinícius Júnior, who led the team to a Champions League and La Liga double and performed outstandingly in the Champions League knockout rounds, should have won the Ballon d’Or. They believe his loss reflects systematic neglect.
Reactions from Different Parties
Rodri (2024 Ballon d’Or winner)
In interviews, Rodri stated that he was not affected by Real Madrid’s absence, saying it was “a moment of glory, and I was more focused on sharing it with my family.” and that he did not care about those who chose not to attend. He also revealed that Dani Carvajal later congratulated him after the ceremony.
France Football
Editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia issued a statement strongly defending the independence of the vote and denying any manipulation. He stated that Vinícius’ votes were split among teammates such as Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal, and not due to organizer favoritism. He also suggested that Real Madrid’s boycott carried “the color of political pressure”
Other football voices
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said he respected Real Madrid’s decision and acknowledged that the voting system needs to be more transparent and fair
La Liga President Javier Tebas publicly supported Real Madrid, stating that their concerns deserve attention
L’Équipe criticized Real Madrid’s actions as “tramples on the sports values of respecting the winner”
Long-Term Impact
Real Madrid’s boycott has triggered a chain reaction within world football, potentially affecting both the Ballon d’Or and the club itself.
For the Ballon d’Or, repeated absences by one of football’s most influential clubs could reduce the ceremony’s star power and commercial value. It may also encourage similar actions by other elite clubs, potentially weakening the award’s dominant position. There are even rumors that UEFA is considering reviving the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award to counterbalance the Ballon d’Or’s influence.
For Real Madrid, while the boycott may reduce individual award exposure for players, it also strengthens the club’s “team-first” culture and highlights its stance of not relying on external validation. However, if the boycott continues long-term, it could affect the willingness of young players to join the club, as the Ballon d’Or remains an important benchmark of individual achievement.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Real Madrid permanently boycotting the Ballon d’Or?
At present, Real Madrid’s position is an “indefinite boycott,” not a clearly stated permanent one. The club’s core demand is reform of the voting system, and reconciliation remains possible if changes are made.
2. Can players attend in a personal capacity?
Yes. The boycott only applies at the official club level. Players are not forbidden from attending as individuals. However, out of respect for the club’s stance, no male Real Madrid players attended in 2024 or 2025.
3. Does the boycott affect nominations or awards?
No. Ballon d’Or nominations and voting are based on players’ annual performances and are not affected by whether a club boycotts the ceremony. In 2025, several Real Madrid players still received nominations across different categories.