Real Madrid Ballon d’Or 2025 attendance is once again uncertain, as tensions between the Spanish giants and France Football continue. The club’s anger over Vinicius Jr’s 2024 Ballon d’Or snub has yet to fade, and despite attempts at reconciliation, there are growing signs that Los Blancos could boycott the Paris ceremony for the second consecutive year. With some of the club’s brightest stars nominated for major prizes, the possibility of another Real Madrid no-show is generating huge debate across the football world.
Key Details at a Glance
- Fixture/Event: Ballon d’Or 2025
- Ceremony Date: September 22, 2025
- Venue: Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris
- Issue: Fallout after Vinicius Jr’s 2024 Ballon d’Or snub
- 2024 Boycott: Real Madrid skipped the entire ceremony
- Key Trophies: Carlo Ancelotti (Johan Cruyff Award), Real Madrid (Club of the Year) left unclaimed
- Organisers: France Football (with UEFA involvement)
- Players Nominated: Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham
- Other Nominations: Thibaut Courtois (Yashin Trophy), Dean Huijsen (Kopa Trophy)
- Status 2025: Attendance in doubt, negotiations unsuccessful
Why Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or 2025 Attendance Is in Doubt
The fallout began in 2024 when Manchester City’s Rodri edged out Vinicius Jr by just 41 points in the Ballon d’Or voting. Real Madrid believed their Brazilian forward had done enough to win the award, and when the result went against him, the club made the dramatic decision to boycott the ceremony entirely. Not a single player, coach, or director traveled to Paris. This meant that Carlo Ancelotti’s Johan Cruyff Trophy and Real Madrid’s Men’s Club of the Year award were left uncollected, creating a striking image of empty seats at football’s most glamorous event.
The absence of Kylian Mbappé, who had just joined the club at the time, also turned heads, especially since he had been due to collect the Gerd Müller Trophy. Real Madrid’s boycott sent a strong message, and one year later, the wounds clearly remain open.
In the buildup to Ballon d’Or 2025, France Football reportedly sent a delegate to Madrid in an attempt to repair the fractured relationship. Their goal was to find common ground and ensure the Spanish giants would attend this year’s event. However, according to Spanish outlet MARCA, these talks ended in failure. The inability to “reestablish relations” means the prospect of another boycott is very real.
What makes this situation more striking is that none of Madrid’s stars are the outright favorites for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. While Vinicius Jr, Mbappé, and Bellingham are nominated, other players are tipped to win. Despite this, Madrid still appear unwilling to forgive or forget what they perceive as an injustice against Vinicius last year.
A Broader Dispute Beyond Vinicius Jr
While Vini’s snub was the spark, reports suggest Real Madrid’s frustration goes beyond one award. The club has raised questions about the new Ballon d’Or voting system, which now involves UEFA. Given Real Madrid’s rocky relationship with the governing body over issues such as the Super League, their discontent has only deepened.
For a club with such a rich Ballon d’Or history—12 winners including Di Stefano, Figo, Ronaldo, Modric, and Benzema—the current rift with the award’s organisers represents a sharp break from tradition. The Ballon d’Or has long been a showcase for Real Madrid’s dominance, but now it risks becoming a stage where their absence makes as many headlines as their presence once did.
From Madrid’s Ballon d’Or 2025 nominees include Vinicius Jr, Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham, three of the biggest stars in world football. Dean Huijsen is also in contention for the Kopa Trophy, while Thibaut Courtois is nominated for the Yashin Trophy. Should Madrid follow through on another boycott, the Théâtre du Châtelet would once again be missing some of football’s most recognizable names.
Such a move would not only hurt the prestige of the awards but also raise questions about whether institutional tensions are overshadowing individual recognition.
With just two weeks until the ceremony in Paris, the clock is ticking. Unless France Football and Real Madrid find a last-minute breakthrough, Ballon d’Or 2025 attendance will likely end the same way as last year—with Los Blancos nowhere to be seen. The message from Madrid is clear: until their concerns are addressed, they are prepared to keep their distance from football’s most famous awards night.
FAQs
Q1: Why is Madrid’s Ballon d’Or 2025 attendance in doubt?
Because the club has yet to reconcile with France Football after Vinicius Jr’s 2024 snub, and meetings to repair relations have failed.
Q2: Did Real boycott the Ballon d’Or in 2024?
Yes, the club skipped the entire ceremony in Paris after learning Vinicius Jr would not win the men’s Ballon d’Or.
Q3: Which Madrid players are nominated for the 2025 Ballon d’Or?
Vini Jr, Kylian Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham are nominated, along with Courtois for the Yashin Trophy and Huijsen for the Kopa Trophy.
Q4: What role does UEFA play in the Ballon d’Or dispute?
Madrid reportedly disagrees with UEFA’s involvement in the new award system, further straining their relationship with the organisers.
Q5: When and where is the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony taking place?
The gala will be held on September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.