Real Madrid has reversed its controversial stance on the Ballon d'Or, resuming official engagement with football's most prestigious individual award after a year-long boycott triggered by Vinícius Júnior's shock omission from the 2024 ceremony.
The Spanish club's dramatic U-turn marks a significant shift in approach following their bitter public dispute with France Football magazine last October. After learning that Rodri Hernández would claim the 2024 award instead of the Brazilian winger—despite his instrumental role in Real Madrid's La Liga and Champions League double in 2023-24—the club's hierarchy made an unprecedented decision to boycott the entire event. The delegation cancelled their trip to Paris and removed roughly five hours of planned coverage from RMTV, their official channel. On 28 October 2024, Real Madrid issued a blunt statement: "At this moment, the Ballon d'Or no longer exists for us."
Madrid Returns to the Fold
This year's edition has seen Real Madrid restore normal relations with the award ceremony. The club's official platforms now carry announcements about the 2026 Ballon d'Or nominations, featuring Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Marc Cucurella among the 30-man shortlist. The return to engagement signals a pragmatic acceptance that sustained silence offered diminishing returns for a club with multiple award contenders.
The Ballon d'Or remains football's most coveted individual honour, voted by journalists, coaches, captains, and fans globally. Real Madrid's year-long boycott represented one of modern sport's most visible protests against an award outcome, reflecting the intense pressure and expectations surrounding their elite squad.
Whether this reconciliation proves temporary or permanent depends largely on how the awards voters treat Real Madrid's stars in future years. With four players now in contention for the 2026 prize, the club has multiple paths to redemption—and multiple opportunities for fresh controversy.
