Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has said he hopes the Ballon d’Or is won by a player from his club, after being asked who he believes should receive the prestigious individual award.
The Uruguay international was responding to a question about the identity of the player who should win this year’s Ballon d’Or. His answer, as reflected in the original title, was that he hopes the honour goes to a Real Madrid player.
The full list of 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or was published earlier. Four players were named as representatives of Real Madrid: Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Marc Cucurella and Vinicius Junior.
Valverde’s comments therefore came against the backdrop of a strong Real Madrid presence among the candidates. The club has four players included in the final 30-name list, giving it a prominent place in the discussion surrounding the award.
The midfielder did not identify a specific nominee in the available comments. Instead, he expressed the hope that the eventual winner would come from Real Madrid, leaving the focus on the club’s group of candidates rather than one individual.
The nominated players are Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Marc Cucurella and Vinicius Junior. Their inclusion means the Ballon d’Or shortlist features four names associated with Real Madrid, according to the published list referenced in the report.
Real Madrid’s latest match also provided the immediate sporting context for Valverde’s comments. In the opening round of the Champions League’s league phase, the Spanish side faced Inter Milan at home.
Real Madrid won the match 2-1 against the Milan club. The result came in the first round of the competition’s overall league phase and was recorded at Real Madrid’s home stadium.
The victory over Inter Milan is the other key event connected with the report. While the conversation centred on the Ballon d’Or and the players nominated for it, Real Madrid had also begun its Champions League campaign with a home win.
Valverde’s view places the club’s nominees at the centre of the award discussion. With four players listed among the 30 contenders, Real Madrid has several candidates who could be considered for the prize.
The midfielder’s response did not alter the published list of nominees. It simply made clear his preference for the award to remain with a Real Madrid player when the Ballon d’Or winner is decided.