Riaan Ghodawat Becomes the First Indian to Attend the Ballon d’Or

THE YOUNG FOOTBALLER FROM INDIA ATTENDED FOOTBALL’S MOST CELEBRATED AWARDS CEREMONY IN LONDON: an early glimpse of a world he hopes to inhabit one day as a player

Mumbai (Maharashtra)  November 1 : At 11, Riaan Ghodawat has already stepped into a world most young footballers can only dream of entering. On 26 October 2026, he became the first Indian to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, bringing him face to face with the people and achievements that define the game he hopes to one day play at the highest level.

A member of the Real Madrid Academy India, Riaan has already gained international exposure through football. He has attended training camps organised by Paris Saint-Germain and West Ham United in London, competed at the Real Madrid World Championship in Madrid and the Singa Cup in Singapore, and travelled to Barcelona to watch El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona. His progress has drawn interest from clubs in the UK, and he has received offers to join them.