Which Teams Might Miss The Ballon d’Or Ceremony: The Ballon d’Or night is always a glittering occasion, but this year, the event risks being overshadowed by absentees. Between disputes over nominations, scheduling overlaps, and club protests, several teams are in the spotlight, not just for their achievements, but for deciding whether to attend at all. Below, we explore which teams might miss the Ballon d’Or ceremony and why.
Real Madrid: The Most Likely Absentee
Reason: Perceived Snubs and Protest
Real Madrid has already signalled that they may skip the Ballon d’Or event. The club believes that their star player Vinícius Jr was unfairly overlooked in favour of Rodri in the last awards, especially given their double-title (La Liga + Champions League) success.
They argue that if criteria used do not pick Vinícius as winner, then nominations (or non-wins) of others like Dani Carvajal are also disrespectful. This has led to Real Madrid deciding to boycott ceremonies.
Real Madrid’s absence in past editions under similar circumstances (i.e. when they feel their key figures are snubbed) suggests they are the team most likely to stay away this year.
PSG and Related Clash: Scheduling Conflict
Reason: Fixtures Overlap & Match Postponement
PSG are another club with potential absence issues, not due to protest so much as scheduling. Their match against Marseille (“Le Classique”) has been rescheduled to the same evening as the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Read More
Because PSG have multiple players nominated for the Ballon d’Or, including front-runner Ousmane Dembélé and other stars, this scheduling conflict could force some nominees to miss the ceremony. Clubs often have tight travel, training, and match commitments which make it hard to be in two places.
Other Teams: Potential Risks of Absence
While Real Madrid and PSG are the clearest cases, there are other teams which might opt to miss or have reduced attendance, for reasons such as:
- Nominee dissatisfaction (if players believe the selection criteria are unfair)
- Logistical or fixture conflicts (particularly if domestic or international matches coincide)
- Internal protests or threats of boycott if a club feels underappreciated or unjustly treated
Such issues are harder to predict but probable among clubs with multiple nominees who are strong contenders but haven’t won, or clubs whose stars feel snubbed.
Read More
Why This Is Happening: Broader Reasons
- Selection Criteria Disputes: Clubs like Real Madrid have questioned whether the criteria used (goals, trophies, individual influence, visibility) are being applied fairly. If they think their players deserve more recognition, they may choose not to endorse the process by attending.
- Scheduling Conflicts: As seen with PSG’s match delayed/rescheduled, sometimes league fixtures clash with the ceremony. Players under contract must often prioritize competitive matches. This forces difficult choices.
- Boycotts as Statement: For Real Madrid, absence is also a statement of principle. If they believe there’s disrespect in the nominations or voting, not attending becomes part of their protest.
- Snubs of Legends: Another cause stirring discontent is the omission of historic players who once dominated Ballon d’Or discussions, Messi and Ronaldo, for example, were both missing from recent nomination lists. Such absences amplify criticism of the nomination process.
At least two clubs are almost certainly going to either miss or limit their participation in the Ballon d’Or ceremony this year:
Real Madrid, driven by perceived snubs, especially of Vinícius Jr and Carvajal, seem set to stay away as a form of protest.
PSG have a scheduling conflict that may prevent some of their nominees from attending.
Other clubs may be tempted by protest or forced absence, but the evidence points most strongly toward these two. Whether their absence will diminish the prestige of the event or force changes in how Ballon d’Or nominations are handled remains to be seen.
FAQs
Q1. What triggers a club to miss the Ballon d’Or ceremony?
A. Usually either protest over nomination/voting criteria, fixture-conflicts, or direct snubs of key players or legends.
Q2. Is Real Madrid definitely skipping the event this year?
A. Not confirmed definitively yet, but they have issued statements suggesting they will boycott due to what they perceive as disrespect regarding nominations and the award process.
Q3. Will PSG definitely have players missing?
A. Yes, scheduling makes it likely that some PSG nominees will have to choose between playing or attending the ceremony.
Q4. Does missing the ceremony affect a player’s Ballon d’Or chances?
A. Officially, no, votes are cast before the ceremony; attendance does not change the voting results. But public perception, media narrative, and personal image can be affected.
Q5. How have past ceremonies seen absentees?
A. In 2024, Real Madrid players and coach weren’t present after the club decided to boycott over nomination dissatisfaction.
Also Read- Arsenal vs Man City: Pep Guardiola – One Time In 10 Years Isn’t Bad Right?’
