Real Madrid changes stance on Ballon d’Or after previous ceremony snub

Real Madrid appear to have softened their approach to the Ballon d’Or after publicly highlighting four of their players among this year’s nominees.

The Spanish club used social media to acknowledge the inclusion of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Marc Cucurella in the Ballon d’Or nominations.

The change in tone follows two notably different responses from Real Madrid to the prestigious individual award. In 2024, the club caused controversy by deciding not to attend the ceremony just a few hours before it was due to begin.

Real Madrid took that decision after learning that Rodri had won the vote. People within the club had believed the award should have gone to one of their own players, rather than the Manchester City midfielder.

The club’s absence from the event was seen as a strong public expression of its disappointment with the result. Its position appeared even more pronounced the following year, when Real Madrid effectively ignored the Ballon d’Or altogether.

On that occasion, the club did not publish any messages about its players’ involvement in the race for the award. There was no public acknowledgement of their chances or of the wider Ballon d’Or process.

Its latest social media post suggests that approach has now changed. By naming the four players included among the nominees, Real Madrid has chosen to recognise the award and its players’ presence in the competition.

The club’s post did not alter the outcome of the voting or indicate which of its nominees it believes should win. However, the decision to publicise their nominations marks a clear contrast with its reaction in the previous two years.

Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Bellingham and Cucurella were all listed in Real Madrid’s social media publication. The Spanish club presented the nominations collectively, without singling out one of the four players in the information provided.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on 26 October. That event will determine the winner after the nominations have been announced.

Real Madrid’s stance has therefore moved from refusing to attend the ceremony in 2024, following Rodri’s victory, to making no publication about the award the next year, and now to openly acknowledging its players’ nominations.

The club’s latest decision does not represent an explanation for its earlier actions. It does, however, provide the clearest indication so far that Real Madrid’s public position on the Ballon d’Or has changed.