Mbappé leads Madrid's delegation to London for the Ballon d'Or
French striker Kylian Mbappé leads Real Madrid's delegation traveling to London for the Ballon d'Or Gala, scheduled to start at 9:00 p.m. The party, consisting of five people, departs from Madrid on a private flight on Monday afternoon.
Composition of the delegation
The delegation is made up of striker Kylian Mbappé, left‑back Marc Cucurella, central defender Yan Diomande and first‑team women's player Felicia Schröder. The senior institutional representative is Emilio Butragueño, the club’s Director of International Relations. There had been speculation about the possible presence of president Florentino Pérez, although this was not confirmed. The information comes from journalist Ramón Fuentes, based in Madrid.
Mbappé and Cucurella are among the four Real Madrid players pre‑selected for the Ballon d'Or Men, alongside Vinícius Jr and Jude Bellingham, although the latter will not attend the event. Yan Diomande travels as a candidate for the Kopa Trophy for Best Young Player. The three men represent the club in the main categories.
Felicia Schröder accompanies the delegation as the women's team representative and is nominated for the Women's Young Player of the Year award. The also‑nominated Caroline Weir of Real Madrid will not travel to London according to the available information. With her presence, the club covers both the male and female categories of the award.
Barça's committee heads to London for the Ballon d'Or gala
Travel and gala details
The party left Madrid Airport on a private flight on Monday afternoon and is expected to arrive in London around 3:30 p.m. They will spend several hours at the Marriott Grosvenor Hotel before heading to the Palladium Theatre, the ceremony venue. The itinerary includes a brief stay in the British capital before the gala begins.
The Ballon d'Or Gala is scheduled to start at 9:00 p.m. at the Palladium Theatre. The award winner will be announced at the end of the evening, keeping the suspense until the last moment. The presence of Real Madrid's representatives underscores the event’s importance for the club.
While Real Madrid has three male players and one female player present, the absence of Vinícius Jr and Jude Bellingham, also nominated, shows a select delegation. This difference reflects the club’s strategy of sending its most prominent and available candidates. The combination of established figures and young talents highlights the breadth of the merengue project.
Lamine Yamal wins third Kopa Trophy at Ballon d'Or gala
The contrast between the broad representation across different categories and the absence of other stars illustrates how Real Madrid aims for a balanced presence at the Ballon d'Or Gala. This strategy reinforces its image both on the male and female fronts.