An Open Dispute

The relationship between Real Madrid and the Ballon d’Or is at its most strained point in years. In 2024, the club shocked the football world with a last-minute boycott after learning that Vinícius Júnior would not win the award. Despite receiving collective recognition as Best Men’s Club of the Year and Carlo Ancelotti being named Coach of the Year, the snub left a bitter taste.

Since then, Florentino Pérez and the Madrid board have argued that the voting system does not fairly reward the club’s players. That rift remains, and in 2025 Los Blancos will once again skip the ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

The Scheduling Factor

While resentment is still the main reason, this year there’s also a practical one: the LaLiga fixture list. Real Madrid faces Levante just 24 hours after the gala, reinforcing the decision to avoid unnecessary travel. Combined with lingering frustration, it makes the absence definitive.

Another factor is the lack of realistic contenders. Despite Kylian Mbappé’s record debut season with 44 goals, the club failed to win silverware, leaving him out of the serious race for the trophy.

A Contrast With PSG

Madrid’s no-show will coincide with that of PSG, but for different reasons. The Parisian club won’t attend because the rescheduled French Classique against Marseille takes place at the exact same time as the gala.

While PSG is tied down by the calendar, Real Madrid doubles down on protest. Three years after Karim Benzema lifted the Ballon d’Or in 2022, the absence of any Madrid presence highlights the club’s fading role in an award it once dominated.