Real Madrid appears to have stopped its long-running Ballon d'Or boycott, which has created fresh rumors that French forward Kylian Mbappe is ready to win football's biggest individual honor. The Spanish club previously skipped the prestigious event due to a major disagreement with organizers after Vinicius Junior missed out on the trophy.
According to reports from The Athletic, club leaders have now decided to attend again, leading many to question if they expect Mbappe to be named the best player in the world. Other top contenders mentioned in the race include England captain Harry Kane and Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal.
This shift by Madrid draws attention because they previously refused to acknowledge the ceremony when Manchester City midfielder Rodri won ahead of Vinicius and Jude Bellingham. That 2024 dispute began when the Spanish team canceled plans to send a delegation of fifty people to Paris after discovering Rodri would claim the prize instead of Vinicius.
The resulting anger overshadowed the event, and the absence meant former manager Carlo Ancelotti could not accept his Men's Coach of the Year trophy, while no representative was present to take the Men's Club of the Year award. The protest carried on into 2025, with nominated players and staff members staying away once more.
Even though Madrid is returning to the ceremony, the winner is actually decided by votes from an international panel of journalists rather than the club or event organizers. This means the team's change of heart does not guarantee the outcome, though it marks a notable shift following two years of tension.
