Barcelona send 23-strong delegation led by Joan Laporta and Lamine Yamal to Ballon d’Or ceremony

Barcelona will send a 23-member delegation to London on Monday for the 70th Ballon d’Or awards ceremony, with club president Joan Laporta leading a group that includes all of the club’s nominees for the various prizes.

The travelling party includes Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Rodri, Joan Garcia, Cata Coll, Esmee Brugts, Patri Guijarro, Caroline Graham Hansen, Claudia Pina, Ewa Pajor, Vicky Lopez, Clara Serrajordi and Pere Romeu.

Laporta will be accompanied by vice-presidents Rafa Yuste and Elena Fort on the club’s institutional side. Barcelona board members Xavi Puig and Xavier Barneol will also attend, along with sporting department representatives Deco, Bojan Krkic, Alejandro Echevarria, Enric Masip and Marc Vives, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The presence of the club’s nominees means Barcelona will be strongly represented at an event that is being staged in a new location for the first time.

London hosts ceremony for first time

This year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in London rather than Paris, marking the first time the English capital has hosted the awards.

Organisers selected London as part of a tribute to Stanley Matthews, who won the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956.

The ceremony will be presented by former Barcelona and Arsenal player Thierry Henry and British journalist Kate Scott. Both currently work on Champions League coverage for the American network CBS.

Organisers are also planning an event featuring musical performances and a series of surprises as they seek to make the awards ceremony an exceptional occasion.