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For the first time since 2006, Real Madrid members are voting in a contested presidential election.
Incumbent president Florentino Pérez faces businessman Enrique Riquelme in a vote that could shape the future of the world’s most successful football club.
Voting is taking place at Ciudad Real Madrid, with polls remaining open until 20:00 local time.
Global Portal News is following the election throughout the day with turnout updates, exit poll estimates, campaign developments and official results as they become available.
Key Facts
Candidates
- Florentino Pérez
- Enrique Riquelme
Voting location
- Ciudad Real Madrid
Polls close
- 20:00 local time (Madrid)
Eligible voters
- 75,219 Real Madrid members
What is at stake?
This is Real Madrid’s first competitive presidential election in two decades. Florentino Perez has run unopposed in every election since 2009.
LIVE UPDATES - Real Madrid Election
20:00 – POLLS CLOSED: Counting Begins in Real Madrid Presidential Election
🗳️ Voting has officially ended at Valdebebas.
Real Madrid members can no longer cast their ballots, bringing to a close the club’s first contested presidential election since 2006.
Attention now turns to the official count, which will determine whether Florentino Perez secures another term as president or whether challenger Enrique Riquelme can produce a historic upset
Final Exit Poll (20:00)
- Florentino Perez: 65.95%
- Enrique Riquelme: 34.05%
Throughout the day, exit polls consistently showed Perez holding a comfortable lead, although Riquelme’s projected vote share would still represent the strongest challenge faced by the incumbent in many years.
Counting Underway
Election officials have now begun the counting process.
According to estimates, the full count could take until approximately 23:00 local time, when the official result is expected to be announced.
Until then, the exit polls remain only an indication of the likely outcome. The presidency of Real Madrid will be decided by the official tally now taking place behind closed doors.
Stay with us for the latest updates as votes are counted.
19:40 – Less Than 20 Minutes Until Polls Close
The countdown is on in Valdebebas.
With less than 20 minutes remaining before voting ends at 20:00 local time, Real Madrid’s first contested presidential election in two decades is entering its final moments.
Throughout the day, exit polls have consistently pointed to a victory for Florentino Perez, who has maintained a lead of around 30 percentage points over challenger Enrique Riquelme.
However, Riquelme’s projected share of the vote would still represent a notable result for a candidate challenging an incumbent president who has dominated the club’s institutional landscape for more than two decades.
Attention is now shifting from campaigning and turnout to the official count, which will begin once polls close.
The first official results are expected later this evening.
19:10 – Final Hour of Voting as Perez Maintains Exit Poll Lead
With less than one hour remaining before polls close, the latest exit poll shows Florentino Perez continuing to hold a clear advantage over Enrique Riquelme.
Exit Poll (19:00 local time)
- Florentino Perez: 65.84%
- Enrique Riquelme: 34.16%
The figures remain broadly consistent with previous updates throughout the day, suggesting a stable lead for the incumbent president as voting enters its final stage.
Turnout Could Approach Historic Levels
Participation is becoming one of the major stories of this election.
The highest turnout ever recorded in a Real Madrid presidential election was 33,116 votes, set during the landmark 2000 contest between Florentino Perez and Lorenzo Sanz.
By 17:00, Real Madrid had already reported 23,593 members voting, and with strong attendance continuing throughout the afternoon, attention is now focused on whether the final participation figure can challenge that historic record.
Polls Close at 20:00
Voting at Valdebebas will end at 20:00 local time.
This is the penultimate exit poll before voting closes.
Once polls shut, officials will begin counting ballots, including postal votes, before announcing the official result later tonight.
While exit polls continue to point toward a Perez victory, only the official count will determine who will lead Real Madrid in the coming years.
18:10 – Turnout Surges as Perez Holds Lead with Less Than Two Hours of Voting Remaining
With fewer than two hours left before polls close at Valdebebas, the latest exit poll continues to show Florentino Perez ahead of challenger Enrique Riquelme.
Exit Poll (18:00 local time)
- Florentino Perez: 65.59%
- Enrique Riquelme: 34.41%
While the gap remains largely unchanged throughout the day, turnout is emerging as one of the most significant stories of the election.
According to figures published by Real Madrid, voter participation had reached 31.37% by 17:00, representing a substantial increase compared with previous presidential elections:
- 2004: 24.7%
- 2006: 16.8%
- 2026 (17:00): 31.37%
The club’s electoral roll includes 75,214 eligible members, meaning more than 23,500 votes had already been cast by late afternoon.
Voting remains open until 20:00 local time, after which the official count will begin.
Riquelme’s campaign has repeatedly argued that a high turnout is essential if it is to challenge Perez’s long-standing dominance of Real Madrid politics, making the participation figures particularly noteworthy as the election enters its final stretch.
17:10 – New Exit Poll Shows Perez Maintaining Lead as Riquelme Camp Claims Tighter Race
The latest exit poll continues to place Florentino Perez in front as voting enters its final hours.
Exit Poll (17:00 local time)
- Florentino Perez: 65.80%
- Enrique Riquelme: 34.20%
The figures represent interviews with members after voting and are not official election results.
However, sources within Enrique Riquelme’s campaign suggest their own internal polling paints a more competitive picture than the public estimates currently being reported by Spanish media.
No detailed figures from the Riquelme camp have been released, making it impossible to independently verify those claims.
With polls remaining open until 20:00 local time, attention is now turning to turnout levels and the potential impact of postal votes, which many observers expect to favor Perez.
The official count will begin after voting closes.
16:00 – Latest Exit Poll Keeps Florentino Perez in Front
The latest update from MARCA’s rolling exit poll suggests little movement in the race, with Florentino Perez maintaining a comfortable lead over challenger Enrique Riquelme.
MARCA Exit Poll (16:00 local time)
- Florentino Perez: 65.11%
- Enrique Riquelme: 34.89%
The figures are based on interviews with Real Madrid members after they cast their ballots at Valdebebas and should not be considered official results.
Compared with earlier updates, the gap between the two candidates remains broadly stable, indicating that Perez continues to benefit from strong support among voters participating in person.
Voting remains open until 20:00 local time, after which the official count will begin.
14:00 – MARCA Exit Poll Shows Florentino Perez Ahead
According to MARCA’s rolling exit poll conducted outside the voting venue, Florentino Perez continues to lead the race.
Latest update:
- Florentino Perez: 64.52%
- Enrique Riquelme: 35.48%
The figures are based on interviews with members leaving the polling station and are not official results.
13:00 – Turnout Reaches 16.82%
The Electoral Board announced that 12,651 members had voted by 13:00.
That represents 16.82% turnout, suggesting a strong level of participation compared with several recent uncontested elections.
Turnout is being closely watched because Riquelme’s campaign has repeatedly argued that higher participation could increase the challenger’s chances.
13:00 – Exit Poll Gap Narrows Slightly
MARCA’s 13:00 update showed:
- Florentino Perez: 65.45%
- Enrique Riquelme: 34.55%
While Perez remains the clear favorite, Riquelme continues to attract a significant share of voters in what is the club’s first competitive election in years.
12:00 – AS Poll Suggests Closer Race
A separate exit poll conducted by AS paints a more competitive picture.
According to the survey:
- Florentino Perez: 61%
- Enrique Riquelme: 39%
The newspaper notes that postal votes could ultimately play an important role and are widely expected to favor Perez.
11:00 – Early Voting Shows Strong Interest
Valdebebas experienced heavy foot traffic throughout the morning.
Observers reported long queues and a steady flow of members arriving to vote, raising the possibility that participation could challenge historical records.
The highest turnout ever recorded in a Real Madrid presidential election remains the 2000 vote between Florentino Perez and Lorenzo Sanz, when more than 33,000 members cast ballots.
10:50 – Enrique Riquelme Casts His Vote
Enrique Riquelme arrived at the polling venue accompanied by members of his proposed board.
Supporters applauded as he cast his vote, although some isolated boos were also heard.
After voting, he spent time greeting members before leaving for his campaign headquarters.
09:59 – Florentino Perez Votes
Florentino Perez arrived shortly before 10:00 and cast his ballot after greeting supporters.
The veteran president is seeking another term after overseeing one of the most successful periods in Real Madrid history, both on and off the field.
Why This Election Matters
This election is about far more than choosing a president.
Members are effectively deciding between:
Continuing the Florentino Perez era
Supporters point to:
- Multiple Champions League titles
- The redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabeu
- Strong financial performance
- Global commercial growth
Backing Enrique Riquelme’s alternative vision
Riquelme has campaigned on:
- Greater member participation
- Institutional reform
- New sporting leadership
- Increased transparency
He has also generated headlines by:
- Naming Raúl González as his preferred sporting director
- Claiming he would pursue a move for Erling Haaland
- Saying he would open talks with Jürgen Klopp if elected
- Highlighting support from club legends including Iker Casillas, Fernando Hierro and Vicente del Bosque
What Happens After Voting Closes?
Voting ends at 20:00 local time.
Officials will then begin counting ballots, including postal votes.
If participation remains high throughout the afternoon, counting could take several hours.
A winner is expected to be known later tonight.
Related Coverage
FAQ Real Madrid Elections 2026
When do Real Madrid election polls close?
Polling stations close at 20:00 local time in Madrid.
Who can vote in the Real Madrid election?
A total of 75,219 Real Madrid members are eligible to vote.
Who are the candidates?
The candidates are Florentino Perez and Enrique Riquelme.
What do the exit polls show?
Current exit polls from Spanish media suggest Florentino Perez is leading, although estimates vary between outlets.
When will the official results be announced?
Official results are expected later tonight after ballots are counted.
Is Enrique Riquelme favored to win?
Most exit polls currently show Florentino Perez ahead, although turnout and postal voting could still influence the final result.
Information Source:
https://www.marca.com/futbol/real-madrid/
https://as.com/futbol/primera/
Photo Attribution:
Carmena reivindica el urbanismo de consenso en la presentación del nuevo Santiago Bernabéu 13 by Diario de Madrid Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Wikimedia Commons: https://w.wiki/PT3d
