Mbappé flies to London for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, Vinicius steps back

Kylian Mbappé will travel to London this Monday evening to attend the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, organized at the London Palladium. The Real Madrid striker, captain of the French national team, is among the top favorites for the award.

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Unlike the previous two years, Real Madrid has decided not to boycott the event. The White House, which had planned not to send a delegation after learning late that Vinicius would not win the trophy in 2024, saw its gesture overtaken. The 2024 Ballon d’Or was ultimately awarded to the Spaniard Rodri.

Arrived at Real Madrid in summer 2024, the “Kyk’s” finally hopes to inscribe his name among the laureates. He says he is the best placed, recalling that he finished top scorer of La Liga, the Champions League and the 2026 World Cup.

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Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal will also be present, as contenders for the title. Despite a thigh injury that keeps him away from the pitch, Mbappé insisted on being in London, even though the PSG match against Lyon is being played simultaneously. The participation of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia remains uncertain due to an upcoming cruciate ligament operation, as does that of PSG captain Marquinhos, who is injured.

The ceremony will take place this Monday evening at the London Palladium, bringing together the best players in the world. The presence of the French national team captain, Kylian Mbappé, adds a symbolic dimension to this seventieth edition of the Ballon d’Or.

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