London hosts Barcelona's delegation at the Ballon d'Or gala

At the luminous London Palladium, under a shower of flashes, president Joan Laporta leads a delegation from FC Barcelona arriving this Monday for the 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or Gala, whose ceremony will start at 9 p.m. and is expected to conclude around 11 p.m.

A blaugrana delegation

Laporta will lead the joint trip with all the club’s candidates for the various awards. Among the representatives traveling are Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Rodrigo Hernández, Joan Garcia, Cata Coll, Esmee Brugts, Patri Guijarro, Caroline Graham Hansen, Claudia Pina, Ewa Pajor, Vicky López, Clara Serrajordi and Pere Romeu.

Vice presidents Rafa Yuste and Elena Fort, executives Xavi Puig and Xavier Barniol, and members of the sports area Deco, Bojan Krkic, Alejandro Echevarría, Enric Masip and Marc Vivés will accompany the president.

The historic gala in London

Lamine Yamal will make the trip in a private jet he has rented for his parents, his partner, relatives, friends and members of his working team.

This edition will be the first held in London, chosen to honour Stanley Matthews, the winner of the first Ballon d'Or in 1956. The venue will be the London Palladium Theatre, with a start at 9 p.m. and a closing expected around 11 p.m.

The ceremony will be hosted by Thierry Henry, former Barça player, and British journalist Kate Scott. Singer Jorja Smith will open the gala with ‘Blue Lights’ and rapper French Montana will deliver a musical performance.

Barça aims for a leading role, both because of the number of candidates and the haul of awards it could collect, strengthening its presence on the most important night in world football.