Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has confirmed he will not attend this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, despite openly backing close friend and international teammate Ousmane Dembélé to lift the award.
The ceremony will be staged on Monday night at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, with PSG’s Dembélé considered the favourite, ahead of Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal and PSG midfielder Vitinha.
Mbappé, who has never won the Ballon d’Or himself, revealed he will follow events from home.
“I’ll watch the ceremony on television. I hope Dembele wins,” the France captain said.
Mbappé’s boycott mirrors Real Madrid’s stance from last year, when the club collectively snubbed the ceremony amid frustration over leaks surrounding the results.
