Real Madrid end their Ballon d’Or silence

Real Madrid end their Ballon d’Or silence Real Madrid are back engaging with the Ballon d’Or. Indeed, after having not posted about the prestigious award ceremony last year, the Merengues have ended their silence following the announcement of the 30 nominees for the Golden Orb for 2026. The Spanish capital club acknowledged the four players from the club who made it to the final shortlist : Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Marc Cucurella, with posts on social media and on the club website. It is not that the club had disappeared from the prestigious honour, but last year, after the controversy surrounding Vinicius Jr. in 2024, the club chose not to acknowledge either the nominations or the final results through their official channels. When the 30 nominees for the award were announced last year, Real Madrid did not publish anything about the shortlisted players or the outcome. PSG’s Ousmane Dembele eventually won the prize. The fallout from Vinicius’ 2024 loss Real Madrid’s decision stemmed from what happened in 2024, when Rodri won the Ballon d’Or ahead of Vinicius. Real Madrid were furious with the result and their delegation ultimately decided not to attend the ceremony after learning that the Brazilian winger would not be crowned, despite his role in the team’s La Liga and Champions League triumphs during the 2023/24 season. The disappointment was enormous inside the club, which considered the decision an injustice. Real Madrid made their position clear on 28 October 2024 with a blunt statement on RMTV: “Right now, the Ballon d’Or no longer exists.” Real Madrid had boycotted Ballon d’Or after Vini’s loss in 2024. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) The club went as far as cancelling almost five hours of special Ballon d’Or programming that had been planned on RMTV. Real Madrid acknowledge the 2026 nominees This year, however, the club has taken a different approach. Real Madrid have acknowledged the 2026 nominations on their social media channels and official website, signalling an end to last year’s silence. “Mbappe, Vini Jr., Bellingham and Cucurella are among the 30 candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, awarded by France Football . The nominees have been selected for their performances during the 2025/26 season,” the club stated. The change marks a clear departure from Real Madrid’s stance last year and suggests that, for now, the club has put its dispute with the Ballon d’Or behind it.