FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta did not hold back when addressing Real Madrid’s decision to skip the 2025 Ballon d’Or gala in Paris. The Barça chief sent a sharp message to the eternal rival, stressing the importance of accepting both victories and defeats with sportsmanship.

What Did Laporta Say About Real Madrid?

When asked about Madrid’s absence, Laporta was blunt:

“They can do what they want. We focus on Barça. Out of respect for the nominees, winners, and the organization, we go. It’s part of our way of understanding sport. You can win and you can lose. You have to know how to lose. We’re lucky to win a lot and lose little.”

With those words, Laporta underlined that for Barcelona, attending events of this magnitude is an act of respect toward football and its protagonists—regardless of the outcome.