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Real Madrid acknowledge Ballon d’Or nominees following previous boycott

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 8, 2026, 5:25 PM

Last updated Sep 8, 2026

Real Madrid acknowledge Ballon d’Or nominees following previous boycott

Summary

Real Madrid resumed official communication regarding the Ballon d’Or by acknowledging the 2026 shortlist on club platforms. The team identified Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Marc Cucurella as candidates for the award. This action marks a departure from the club's stance in 2024, when it ignored the nomination process and ceremony following the loss of Vinicius Jr. to Rodri. At that time, Real Madrid officials expressed significant dissatisfaction with the voting outcome, describing the award as non-existent and canceling planned television coverage. The current acknowledgment suggests the club has moved past the dispute regarding the previous selection process. The 30 nominees were selected based on individual performances during the 2025/26 season.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Real Madrid publicly acknowledged four club players nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
•The list of nominees includes Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Marc Cucurella.
•The club previously boycotted the award in 2024 after Vinicius Jr. did not win.
•Official club channels posted about the nominees on the website and social media.
•The 2026 nominations follow player performances during the 2025/26 season.

Latest Updates

5:25 PMYahoo Sports — Real Madrid end their Ballon d’Or silence

What they're saying

"
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 ...
— Yahoo Sports

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