Real Madrid sends three first-team players to Ballon d'Or ceremony in London

Real Madrid sent an official delegation to London for the Ballon d'Or ceremony, led by Director of Institutional Relations Emilio Butragueno, with players Kylian Mbappe, Marc Cucurella, and Yan Diomande, plus Felicia Schroder from the women's team. The group flew from Madrid on a private flight Monday afternoon, arriving around 3:30 p.m. to prepare at the Marriott Grosvenor Hotel before the event at the Palladium Theatre. Mbappe and Cucurella are Ballon d'Or nominees, while Diomande is up for the Kopa Trophy. Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, also shortlisted for the men's award, will not attend. Schroder is a Young Player of the Year candidate, while women's Ballon d'Or nominee Caroline Weir also stayed away.