Florentino Pérez was re-elected president of Real Madrid with 65% of the vote, defeating renewable-energy entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme in the club's first contested presidential ballot in 20 years. The result gave the 79-year-old incumbent a further four-year term after five consecutive electoral cycles in which he had faced no opponent.

Around 100,000 club members were eligible to participate. Polling opened at 9 a.m. local time and closed at 8 p.m., with both candidates casting ballots during the morning. Pérez said after the count that he had won at every voting table and described the result as the second best in Real Madrid's history. He added that 1,000 postal votes had been invalidated and said the decision would be appealed.

Pérez had been elected without opposition in 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2025. He first served as president from 2000 to 2006, before being replaced by Ramón Calderón, then returned after Calderón's resignation in 2009. He has remained in office since then, making him the longest-serving president in the club's history. Outside football, he is chairman and chief executive of civil-engineering company ACS Group.

The election was called even though Pérez held a mandate through 2029. He announced the ballot at a May 12 press conference, after Real Madrid completed a second consecutive season without a major trophy. Riquelme, 37, became the only challenger and framed the contest around the club's member-owned structure. He opposed Pérez's plan to obtain external investment and argued that the vote amounted to a decision on Real Madrid's ownership model.

Real Madrid is one of four Spanish clubs that remain owned by members, alongside Barcelona, Athletic Club and Osasuna. Following his defeat, Riquelme said his campaign would continue working to defend that model. Pérez, meanwhile, said the election demonstrated that the club was both democratic and united, and pledged that it would remain in its members' hands under his leadership.

The result also cleared the way for José Mourinho's expected return as coach. Pérez had publicly tied the appointment to his victory. Real Madrid informed Benfica that it intended to pay the €15 million release clause in Mourinho's contract; an earlier €6 million clause had expired on May 29 while the election delayed the process.

Pérez now begins another mandate with leadership settled but sporting pressure intact. His immediate agenda includes the coaching transition and a transfer window aimed at strengthening a squad that had gone two seasons without a major trophy.

Riquelme's challenge ended Pérez's long sequence of unopposed elections, giving members a direct choice even though the incumbent retained a clear majority.