11-Year-Old Riaan Ghodawat Becomes First Indian at Ballon d’Or

At just 11 years old, Indian footballer Riaan Ghodawat has achieved a milestone by becoming the first Indian to attend the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony, held at the London Palladium in London on October 26, 2026. The young footballer witnessed an evening celebrating some of the biggest names and achievements in international football, offering him an early glimpse into the professional world he hopes to enter as a player.

A member of Real Madrid Academy India, Riaan has gained international exposure through training camps organised by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and West Ham United in London. He has also competed at the Real Madrid World Championship in Madrid and the Singa Cup in Singapore, besides travelling to Barcelona to watch El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona. His progress has reportedly attracted interest from UK clubs, with offers to join them.

The 2026 ceremony carried special significance as the Ballon d’Or celebrated its 70th anniversary. Established by French magazine France Football in 1956, the award is widely regarded as one of football's most prestigious individual honours. The London edition also paid tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner. The selection process considers individual performances, collective achievements and sporting conduct, with an international jury of specialist football journalists deciding the winners.

The ceremony recognised several leading football personalities. Harry Kane won the men's Ballon d’Or, while Alexia Putellas secured the women's honour. Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Vicky López received the Men's and Women's Young Talent of the Year awards, respectively. Other honours included goalkeeper awards for Unai Simón and Cata Coll, while Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona were named the men's and women's Clubs of the Year.

Riaan's association with Real Madrid Academy India connects him with a wider youth football development ecosystem. The Real Madrid Foundation, in collaboration with Conscient Sports, launched educational football programmes across Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru in 2024, reaching more than 4,500 participants and promoting technical skills, teamwork and discipline.