Real Madrid has chosen to stick with the same stance as last year and won’t be sending any representatives to the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony. The news, first reported by Spanish daily As, goes back to the frustration of 2024, when the club was told at the last minute that Vini Jr. would not be named the world’s best player. The award instead went to Rodri of Manchester City, and the club’s reaction was blunt: “we won’t go where we’re not respected.” A year later, that line still lingers, turning what could’ve been a simple absence into a direct statement aimed at the organizers.
A heavy absence
This isn’t just any team skipping the gala, it’s the club with the largest number of nominees this year. Mbappé, Vini Jr. and Bellingham are all up for best player in the world. Courtois is a candidate for the Yashin Trophy as top goalkeeper, and Huijsen is listed among the youngsters for the Kopa Trophy. On the women’s side, Caroline Weir is in the running for best player, while Linda Caicedo is nominated for the Kopa. Even with so many names on the list, the board decided no one would attend. No president, no directors, not even staff.
The players themselves were technically free to go, but the schedule didn’t allow it. The men’s team has a La Liga match against Levante on Tuesday, which made any trip impossible. In the end, only Caroline Weir and Linda Caicedo are expected to show up.
Pride or strategy?
That’s where the debate starts. Some argue the club is being consistent. Last year they felt blindsided when told Vini Jr., widely seen as the frontrunner, wouldn’t win. For a club that views itself as bigger than any award, showing up now would look like backing down. Others see the move as stubbornness, even childish. By not attending, the club also gives up valuable media exposure, influence and prestige at a ceremony that still holds huge weight in world soccer.
The Ballon d’Or has never been free of controversy. Criteria often feel vague, and politics are always in the background. But for the players, the trophy remains a career-defining achievement. By refusing to send people this year, Real Madrid is placing its pride and narrative above the visibility and recognition of its own stars.