The 2026 Ballon d'Or in London will see the participation of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, but with significantly reduced delegations and without their respective presidents. Florentino Pérez, president of the Spanish club, did not accompany himself to the ceremony and will not participate in the event, while Nasser Al-Khelaifi, at the top of PSG, will remain in Paris to follow the Ligue1 match against Lyon.
Real Madrid, after two years of absence, will return to represent itself at the awards ceremony with a leading team. The delegation will be led by Kylian Mbappé, one of the most discussed candidates for the title, together with Yan Diomandé, Marc Cucurella and Emiliano Butragueño, former player and current manager of the club. The choice not to send the president will not prevent the club from being present with its most anticipated protagonists.
PSG will also not see their president in London. Al‑Khelaifi decided to stay in Paris to follow the Ligue1 final, in which the French club will face Lyon at the Parc des Princes. The management considered the match as a priority compared to the Ballon d'Or ceremony. However, PSG will still be represented at the awards ceremony. The delegation will be led by Ousmane Dembélé, winner of the previous edition, and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Despite the absence of the presidents, both teams will present themselves with key figures. Real Madrid will be able to count on Mbappé and his teammates to show the strength of the club, while PSG, with Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia, will demonstrate that they maintain their presence on the European scene. The event in London, which will be held on 26 October, will gather delegations from multiple European clubs, but the choice not to send presidents marks a change compared to previous traditions. The awards ceremony will however take place with the participation of high profile players and managers, guaranteeing an atmosphere of competition and celebration of world football.