Mansion Sports – The 2025 Ballon d’Or gala, held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, once again brought together some of the brightest stars in world football.

The spotlight fell on names such as Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, Aitana Bonmatí, and Lucy Bronze. 

Yet, the absence of Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid for the second year in succession sparked major questions among football fans worldwide.

Mbappé and Real Madrid Stars Missing from the Ceremony

Despite being nominated for the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or, Kylian Mbappé chose not to travel to Paris. 

His Real Madrid teammates, fellow nominees Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, were also nowhere to be seen.

Adding to the absence, Kopa Trophy contender Dean Huijsen and Yashin Trophy nominee Thibaut Courtois did not attend either. 

This meant Real Madrid had no official representation at football’s most prestigious awards ceremony.

Real Madrid’s Rift with France Football

The absence cannot be separated from Real Madrid’s ongoing conflict with the Ballon d’Or organizers, France Football.

In 2024, Vinícius Júnior was controversially overlooked for the Ballon d’Or, losing out to Rodri, a decision that left Los Blancos deeply dissatisfied. 

In protest, the Spanish giants boycotted last year’s ceremony, and this year they once again reaffirmed their stance by declining to send representatives.

Xabi Alonso’s Focus on Levante Clash

While no official explanation was released by the club, Real Madrid’s new head coach, Xabi Alonso, downplayed the issue, stressing that his sole focus remained on their league fixture against Levante, scheduled less than 24 hours after the gala.

“I watch a lot of football, but this is not my subject. I am not part of the voting process, so we will simply see who wins after the ceremony. My focus is only on Levante,” Alonso told the press in a pre-match conference.

Failed Attempts at Reconciliation

Reports suggested that France Football attempted to mend ties with Real Madrid ahead of this year’s event. However, discussions between the two sides broke down without resolution, leading to another year of tension and absence.

Mbappé’s Record-Breaking Debut Season at Real Madrid

Mbappé himself confirmed his non-attendance for the second year running. Despite scoring an impressive 44 goals in his debut campaign with Real Madrid—surpassing Ivan Zamorano’s long-standing record of 37 goals in the 1992/93 season—his efforts fell short of Ballon d’Or contention.

The reason was clear: Real Madrid failed to secure a single trophy during the 2024/2025 campaign.

“To win the Ballon d’Or, you first need to win trophies. My goal is to help my team achieve silverware, and then we will see what happens,” Mbappé admitted. He also expressed support for his close friend Ousmane Dembélé, one of the leading contenders: “I will be watching on television and hope he wins.”

A Brief Look at Mbappé and Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or History

Mbappé’s highest-ever finish in the Ballon d’Or came in 2023 when he placed third, a record he has yet to surpass.

As for Real Madrid, Karim Benzema remains the last player from the club—and the last Frenchman—to lift the award, having done so in 2022.

This year’s continued absence once again highlights the strained relationship between the Spanish giants and the sport’s most prestigious individual accolade.