The upcoming Ballon d'Or already has a date marked in red on the global soccer calendar. The awards ceremony, which will be held in Paris, will bring together the season's biggest stars. However, not everyone at Real Madrid is guaranteed a trip to the French capital.
The club, always present at this type of gala, has decided this time to set a very clear condition. There won't be a massive trip unless a very specific event occurs that, according to the board, justifies the deployment.
A list of top finalists
Real Madrid has three footballers among the Ballon d'Or finalists: Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham. These three names, on their own merits, have made their mark on the season and are serious contenders for the most prestigious individual award on the planet.
Any of the three could lift the trophy and, in that case, the club would send its full representation to the gala, which will take place on September 22 in Paris. But if none of them wins the award, the strategy will be very different from the usual one.
From the start, it hasn't been well received that Barça has four finalists compared to Real Madrid's three. Nor that Barça has six finalists in the women's category compared to one from Real Madrid. Or that Real Madrid's coach isn't nominated as best coach.
In addition, Barça is nominated as best men's and women's club in a list where Real Madrid doesn't appear. Everything looks very bad for the club's interests.
No award, no trip
According to MB, Florentino Pérez has decided that Real Madrid won't send any delegation to Paris if there isn't a Real Madrid winner of the Ballon d'Or. This way, he continues his decision from last season. Back then, Vinícius was the favorite, he didn't win, and the club chose to cancel a 70-seat flight.
Not even the possibility that Courtois could receive the best goalkeeper award will change this decision.
The president believes that attending the gala should be in response to a main recognition and not to secondary awards, no matter how important they are. The policy will be clear: if the top individual award doesn't stay at Santiago Bernabéu, there won't be an institutional trip.
A message of pride and demand
This decision isn't just logistical. It responds to the disappointment caused last season by the choice of Rodri and not Vinícius as Ballon d'Or.
Real Madrid felt offended then and keeps its stance of ignoring the Ballon d'Or. In its media, there hasn't been any mention of the awards Real Madrid is competing for.
The gesture can also be interpreted as a way to avoid distractions in an already tight schedule. Xabi Alonso's team has important commitments on those dates. Skipping a trip to Paris would allow the team to keep full focus on sports.
The countdown to the gala is underway and Florentino's decision has already been made. If the winner is Mbappé, Vinícius, or Bellingham, Real Madrid will be present in full force. If not, Paris will have to wait.