Real Madrid Responds to Ballon d'Or Ceremony: Controversy and Implications

Real Madrid won't send an official delegation to Monday night's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris, according to sources close to the organizers. The Spanish giants are giving their players the choice to attend individually, but the men's team will be preparing for Tuesday's league match against Levante.

The club's decision comes after last year's boycott when news leaked that Manchester City's Rodri would win the top prize over Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior. This year, the timing works against them anyway - coach Xabi Alonso wants his squad focused on their upcoming La Liga fixture.

Scottish midfielder Caroline Weir, nominated for the women's Ballon d'Or, will make the trip to Paris. But the men's team is staying put in Madrid. Even Kylian Mbappé, who's set to receive the Gerd Müller Trophy for top scorer, announced after Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League win over Marseille that he won't attend the ceremony.

Real Madrid's relationship with the Ballon d'Or has been rocky lately. Last year's snub was particularly pointed - the club pulled out entirely when word spread that Rodri would beat Vinicius to the main award. The Brazilian forward had been widely expected to win after helping Real secure both La Liga and Champions League titles.

But here's the thing about these award ceremonies - they often create more drama off the pitch than on it. Real Madrid still collected multiple prizes that night, including recognition for Mbappé as joint top scorer with England's Harry Kane, and Carlo Ancelotti took home the best coach award.

The club's approach this time seems more measured. Instead of a complete boycott, they're letting individual players decide while keeping team priorities first. It's a practical move that avoids the negative headlines while maintaining focus on actual football.

For investors and sponsors watching European football's biggest clubs, these award show politics matter less than on-field performance. Real Madrid remains one of the sport's most valuable franchises, and their Champions League success continues to drive revenue regardless of individual player recognition.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony will go on without Real's official presence, but the club's absence won't go unnoticed. It's another sign that the relationship between Europe's elite clubs and football's traditional institutions continues to evolve.