Real Madrid will return to the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday, with Kylian Mbappé set to lead the club’s delegation. The decision follows a two‑year boycott that began after the club’s displeasure with Manchester City midfielder Rodri winning the 2024 men’s award ahead of Vinícius Júnior. While the club had previously allowed Caroline Weir to attend the 2023 event after her nomination for the Ballon d’Or Féminin, this year Madrid has chosen to participate fully.
Sources told ESPN that the Madrid contingent has flown to London in the hopes that Mbappé can secure his first Ballon d’Or. The French striker, who finished as the top scorer at the 2026 World Cup and has been prolific in the Champions League and La Liga, is among the nominees for the prestigious trophy. He will be competing against Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, both of whom are also in contention. In addition, Real Madrid’s left‑back Marc Cucurella, who joined the club from Chelsea in August after helping Spain lift the World Cup, is also nominated and will be in attendance.
The club’s record signing of the summer, Yan Diomande, will attend the gala as well. The 17‑year‑old winger has been nominated for the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player under 21. Diomande’s transfer fee was reported to be up to €140 million. Another young talent, Sweden’s Felicia Schröder, who became the most expensive transfer in women’s football when she joined Real Madrid from BK Hacken for €1.5 million, will also travel to London. Schröder is nominated for the women’s Kopa Trophy.
Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueño will accompany the players to the event, underscoring the club’s renewed commitment to the award. The return to the Ballon d’Or marks a significant shift in Madrid’s stance, as the club had previously chosen to abstain from the ceremony in protest of the selection process. With the ceremony set for Monday, fans and pundits alike will be watching to see whether Mbappé can finally lift the trophy that has eluded him so far.