Real Madrid are expected to send a large delegation, including president Florentino Perez and forward Kylian Mbappe, to the 2026 Ballon d'Or gala in London on 26 October, according to VnExpress, citing L'Équipe. The move ends two years in which the Spanish club either boycotted the ceremony or barely showed up. In the same week, Dân trí, citing Marca, reported that Lamine Yamal is travelling to London by private jet, and the organisers stepped in to clarify the fan-voted Ballon d'Or of All Time (BOAT), as Thanh Niên reported.
Why Real's return matters
The reversal is easiest to read against the club's recent history with the award, compiled by KBVN+ from the sources:
- 2024: Real cancelled every flight to Paris at the last minute after learning that Vinicius Junior would not win and that Manchester City midfielder Rodri would. Báo Văn Hóa says the club went as far as criticising the award's credibility.
- 2025: Ousmane Dembele won, and Caroline Weir was the only Real Madrid player at the gala.
- 2026: Báo Văn Hóa, also citing L'Équipe, says Jude Bellingham and Vinicius are expected to join Perez and Mbappe. The squad plays Barcelona in La Liga on 25 October and flies to England straight after the Clasico.
Real have four men's Ballon d'Or nominees: Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham and Marc Cucurella. Thibaut Courtois is up for the Yashin Trophy, while Yan Diomande and Felicia Schroder are on the men's and women's Kopa Trophy shortlists. VnExpress stresses that attendance proves nothing about the result: only France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia knows the winner in advance.
Where the race stands
According to Thanh Niên, The Athletic polled 100 industry figures, from players and coaches to scouts and club executives. Their points, set against the season highlights cited by the Vietnamese outlets:
| Candidate | The Athletic poll points | Season highlights (source) |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Kane | 1,103 | 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England (VnExpress); European Golden Shoe 2025-26 and the Bundesliga title (Dân trí) |
| Lamine Yamal | 991 | La Liga with Barcelona, World Cup 2026 with Spain (Dân trí) |
| Kylian Mbappe | 728 | 10 World Cup goals (VnExpress); top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup (Báo Văn Hóa, Dân trí) |
| Michael Olise | 646 | – |
| Lionel Messi | 498 | Could not lead Argentina to the 2026 World Cup title (Dân trí) |
The Independent's odds of 22 October, quoted by VnExpress, follow the same order at the top: Kane first, then Yamal and Mbappe, with Messi behind all three. Mbappe's weakness is the lack of a team trophy, despite goals such as the one in Real's 4-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig on 21 October. Kane has no continental or world title either.
Dân trí, citing Marca, says Yamal is travelling separately from Barcelona's party, by private jet with family and close friends, and has reportedly planned a celebration in London in case he wins. He finished second to Dembele last year and took the best young player award. A win would make him the youngest Ballon d'Or winner, beating the record set by the Brazilian Ronaldo in 1997. Messi, per Dân trí, will skip the gala because he is in Oviedo, Spain, to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports.
BOAT is not a new Super Ballon d'Or
Thanh Niên reports that the organisers described BOAT as a fan poll with no trophy and no official status, and not part of the London ceremony. Each vote costs 1 euro and fans can vote as often as they like. Cristiano Ronaldo leads with 75% of the vote, ahead of Messi on 9%, and the result is due on 28 October. The only Super Ballon d'Or so far was awarded by France Football in December 1989 to Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano, and no date has been set for a second one. Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or five times; Messi holds the record with eight.
What comes next
The 70th edition takes place at the London Palladium. According to Thanh Niên, London was chosen to honour Stanley Matthews, the award's first winner. Thierry Henry and journalist Kate Scott will host. In Vietnam time, the red carpet runs from 1:00 to 1:40 on 27 October, the ceremony from 2:00 to 4:00 and the winners' press conference from 4:30. First comes the Clasico on 25 October, the last match for Mbappe and Yamal before London. For background, see our earlier report on Harry Kane and the 2026 Ballon d'Or race.