Real Madrid boss explains club’s absence from Paris ceremony, insisting his eyes are only on La Liga points.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has brushed off the glitz of football’s biggest individual award, stating his team’s focus is firmly on their upcoming La Liga match rather than Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.
For the second year running, the Spanish giants will be notably absent from the event. The club’s boycott began last year when their star player, Vinicius Junior, was unexpectedly beaten to the prize by Manchester City’s Rodri. This year, the frontrunners are Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
When pressed on the reason for skipping the ceremony, Alonso was straightforward. “We have a match tomorrow against Levante in La Liga,” he told reporters. “We have many points at stake and all the matches are important. I am not thinking about it. I am just focused on Levante.”
He politely sidestepped questions about who might win the prestigious award. “We’ll see what happens. I watch a lot of football, but it’s not my topic,” Alonso said. “I don’t have to vote—we’ll see who wins after the gala. I haven’t thought about it too much.”
The conversation turned to last year’s contender, Vinicius Junior, who appeared frustrated after being substituted in Saturday’s win over Espanyol. The Brazilian was also left out of the starting lineup for the Champions League clash with Marseille last week. However, Alonso moved to reassure the forward.
“I am happy with what he is doing,” Alonso insisted. “We have just started the season, and we have still a lot to play. He must continue being an important player for the team and feel himself comfortable. There are still a lot of matches to play.”
The victory over Espanyol marked a perfect start for Alonso, with five wins from five league games. The manager shared that the mood in the camp is positive, but he is already looking for improvements.
“After the match, I spoke with the players and all were very happy,” he added. “Obviously, because we won, but also because of the feeling of the team. They want to keep improving… I am very happy although I think we can do it better. We can be more clinical. The base is there, and it is solid for what we want to do this season.”
The 30 nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, chosen by a committee of journalists from France Football and L’Equipe, were announced on August 7. The list features stars like Real Madrid’s own Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, alongside the favourites, Dembele and Yamal. But for Alonso and his squad, the only prize that matters this week is three points against Levante.
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