Real Madrid ends Ballon d'Or boycott with Mbappé in contention, Vinicius and Florentino absent

Real Madrid will bring two years of estrangement from the Ballon d'Or to an end tonight. The Spanish club is sending a delegation back to the ceremony, held at the London Palladium Theatre, after ordering a boycott in October 2024 that left its seats empty in Paris when it deemed Vinicius' defeat to Rodri an injustice.

That edition was defined by Real Madrid's absence. Vinicius, convinced he would receive the award, cancelled his trip on the morning of the gala when news leaked that the Spanish midfielder had won. The club's reaction was immediate: neither the Brazilian, nor Florentino Pérez, nor the rest of the travelling party attended the Théâtre du Châtelet. Carlo Ancelotti also did not collect his best coach trophy in person.

• Real Madrid returns to the Ballon d'Or after its 2024 boycott.
• Kylian Mbappé is among the three main contenders, along with Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane.
• Vinicius and Florentino Pérez are not expected to attend the London gala.
• Jude Bellingham, Marc Cucurella and Mbappé will represent the Spanish club.
• Emilio Butragueño, director of institutional relations, will be present.
• Barcelona attends with Laporta and Lamine, who travels by private jet with his inner circle.

What Real Madrid's return means after the 2024 Ballon d'Or boycott

The decision to come back to the ceremony closes the most tense institutional chapter between the Madrid club and football's most prestigious individual award. In 2024, Real Madrid accused France Football and L'Équipe of orchestrating what happened to Vinicius and opted not to send any representative. Two years later, institutional normality is restored with a delegation led by three of its nominated players.

The return does not mean every wound has healed, however. The expected absence of the Brazilian and the president keeps alive the idea that the rift from Paris still weighs on part of the dressing room and the board.

Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid's main candidate for the award

The French forward arrives in London as one of the three names with the best chance of lifting the trophy, alongside Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane, who leads the betting markets. Mbappé is chasing the first Ballon d'Or of his career after a season of outstanding individual numbers, in which he became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

A lack of collective silverware works against him, though. Both Lamine and Kane have lifted trophies over the course of the campaign, a factor that has historically swayed voters and could leave the Madrid man empty-handed despite his figures.

Vinicius and Florentino Pérez, the absences that define the night

The fourth Real Madrid player among the thirty finalists, Vinicius, is not expected to travel to London unless there is a last-minute change of heart. His decision extends the sense that what happened in 2024 remains unresolved for the forward, who saw an honour the club considered legitimately his slip away.

Florentino Pérez, the architect of the decision to boycott the previous edition, is also not expected to attend. The president shares Vinicius' stance and does not plan to travel to the British capital. Emilio Butragueño, director of institutional relations, will be the visible face of the club.

Barcelona arrives in force with Laporta and Lamine

While Real Madrid faces the gala without a full delegation, Barcelona has confirmed the presence of its president, Joan Laporta, and Lamine Yamal. The young forward will travel from Barcelona with his family and closest friends on a private jet, while the rest of the Catalan expedition flies on another aircraft.

The London gala also has a clear favourite in the best coach category. Luis de la Fuente, Spain's national team manager, is the leading candidate to collect the prize that Carlo Ancelotti won in 2024 without being able to take the stage.

Three contenders and a gala with a sense of unfinished business

The 2025 Ballon d'Or is shaping up as a transitional edition between the controversy of 2024 and the restoration of normality. Mbappé's presence puts Real Madrid back in the spotlight, while the absence of Vinicius and Florentino Pérez keeps the debate alive over whether the club has fully moved on or simply decided to live with the wound.

Tonight's ceremony in London's West End will settle the doubts. Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé will battle for the men's award, with Luis de la Fuente the strong favourite in the dugout. Real Madrid, for the first time in two years, will have representation on the red carpet.