Ballon d’Or 2025: Why PSG Players will not Attend the Ceremony

Several Paris Saint-Germain players are expected to miss the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony as a result of the rescheduling of Le Classique against Olympique Marseille.

Originally slated for the weekend, the high-profile Ligue 1 clash has been moved to Monday night due to severe storm warnings in southern France. The rescheduled fixture now coincides with the Ballon d’Or gala at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Among those potentially affected is PSG winger Ousmane Dembélé, considered one of the frontrunners for this year’s Ballon d’Or. The Parisian club leads all others in nominations, with nine players shortlisted across various award categories.

With the match set to kick off at the same time as the ceremony, players are expected to prioritize the crucial derby over attending football’s most prestigious individual awards event.

However, Dembélé and Rennes’ Désiré Doué — both currently sidelined with injuries — could still make appearances at the ceremony, as their unavailability for the match may free them to attend.