Florentino Pérez has secured another four-year term as the president of Real Madrid after defeating his rival challenger, Enrique Riquelme, in the club’s presidential election. The election was conducted on Sunday at Valdebebas, the club’s official training facility. According to the certified results, Pérez secured a convincing victory by capturing 65% of the total valid votes cast, thereby extending his leadership at the Spanish club until 2030.
Election Results and Statistical Breakdown
The voting process took place throughout Sunday at Valdebebas. Projections from various media outlets and exit polls consistently indicated a substantial lead for the incumbent president from the early stages of the ballot counting. Pérez secured a total of 21,741 votes to retain his position. In contrast, his opponent, Enrique Riquelme, received 11,814 votes, accounting for the remaining 35% of the total valid ballot.
Real Madrid Presidential Election Summary
| Election Metric | Details and Statistics |
| Winning Candidate | Florentino Pérez (65% of valid votes) |
| Votes Received by Winner | 21,741 |
| Runner-Up Candidate | Enrique Riquelme (35% of valid votes) |
| Votes Received by Runner-Up | 11,814 |
| Election Venue | Valdebebas, Madrid |
| New Mandate Expiry Year | 2030 |
Historical Context of Pérez’s Presidency
Florentino Pérez has been the dominant figure in Real Madrid’s administrative hierarchy since the turn of the millennium. He has served as the club’s president for the vast majority of the period since 2000, with his only absence from office occurring between 2006 and 2009.
Pérez initially campaigned for the presidency in 1995 but suffered a defeat against the incumbent president, Ramón Mendoza. He mounted a successful challenge in 2000, defeating Lorenzo Sanz to claim the presidency for the first time with 55% of the vote—an election in which postal ballots played a decisive role. He consolidated his leadership in 2004, winning re-election with an overwhelming majority of more than 90% of the votes cast.
The Return of Electoral Competition
The election marked a significant shift in Real Madrid’s recent political landscape, serving as the first contested presidential race for Pérez since he returned to the helm in 2009. Following the controversial departure of Ramón Calderón in 2009, Pérez assumed the presidency without opposition. He was subsequently re-elected uncontested during the election cycles of 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025, as no rival candidates successfully triggered a ballot. Consequently, this race was the first time in seventeen years that Pérez had to face club members in a direct vote.
The electoral campaign between Pérez and Riquelme began in an atmosphere of mutual respect, but relations grew increasingly strained as the election approached. The campaign descended into a cycle of mutual allegations and intense political posturing regarding which high-profile player transfers each candidate would secure if elected. Ultimately, the ballot concluded with Pérez retaining his majority.
The election was initiated unexpectedly on 12 May, approximately one month before the scheduled conclusion of the prior electoral cycle, which was originally due to run until 2029. Pérez opted to call the early election in response to a period of poor on-field performances by the team and subsequent damage to the institutional image of the club.