The ceremony takes place in Paris tonight, but the majority of Paris Saint-Germain will not be able to attend due to their rescheduled match with Marseille
Ousmane Dembélé is expected to claim his first Ballon d’Or tonight at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, but most of his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates will miss the ceremony after their crucial Ligue 1 clash with Marseille was rescheduled to the same evening.
The French winger, who scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists last season as PSG won the Champions League and Ligue 1, will be able to attend the prestigious ceremony only because he is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The 28-year-old faces competition from Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, but is widely considered the frontrunner after his stellar 2024-25 campaign that saw him propel PSG to their first ever Champions League crown.
Weather Chaos Forces Fixture Clash
The scheduling conflict arose after extreme weather conditions forced the postponement of Sunday’s Le Classique between Olympique Marseille and PSG at the Stade Vélodrome. Authorities issued an orange alert for flooding and thunderstorms in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, leading to the match being rescheduled for Monday evening at 8pm local time.
Due to severe weather conditions expected in the Marseille region, the Olympique de Marseille-Paris Saint-Germain match, originally set for tonight as part of Matchday 5 of Ligue 1, has been postponed,” the Ligue de Football Professionnel confirmed.
The rescheduled kick-off time directly clashes with the Ballon d’Or ceremony, creating an unprecedented situation where the favourite for football’s most prestigious individual award might miss his coronation due to a domestic fixture.
Injury Allows Dembélé to Attend
Ironically, Dembélé’s hamstring tear suffered on international duty with France earlier this month has become a blessing in disguise. The injury rules him out of the Marseille clash but allows him to attend the ceremony where he is expected to succeed Manchester City’s Rodri as the world’s best player.
Fellow PSG nominees Désiré Doué and João Neves, both nursing injuries, will also be able to attend the gala. Doué is dealing with a right calf issue picked up whilst on France duty, whilst Neves is also recovering from injury.
However, the rest of PSG’s nominated players – including Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz – will be with the squad preparing for the crucial match against their fierce rivals.
Reduced PSG Delegation
PSG have been forced to scale back their Ballon d’Or delegation from 60 to just 40 representatives due to the scheduling conflict. The club confirmed the cancellation of a planned reception for players and their entourages at Parc des Princes.
According to L’Équipe, whilst Dembélé had requested 30 guests, not all will be accommodated in the theatre’s 400-seat orchestra section. The reduced group of 40, excluding security, will include Dembélé alongside close friends and family, as well as the entourages of Doué and Neves.
PSG sporting director Luís Campos had been unequivocal about Dembélé’s credentials: “If Ousmane doesn’t win the Ballon d’Or, it’s because the people who voted don’t have the competence to vote for the Ballon d’Or. If he was called Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there would be no discussion.
Strong Support for Dembélé
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has emerged as one of Dembélé’s strongest advocates. During CBS Sports‘ Champions League coverage this week, when asked about potential winners, Henry was emphatic: “I don’t even need to talk. You just have to look at the picture.”
The former France striker made it clear he sees “a significant gap between the PSG winger and the rest of the field,” dismissing suggestions that players like Raphinha, Kylian Mbappé, Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal or Achraf Hakimi were genuine contenders.
Dembélé himself has expressed confidence about his nomination, telling FourFourTwo: “After a season like this with four trophies, goals and assists, it’s natural to see myself among the candidates for this award. No individual accolade’s more important for a footballer.”
“The Ballon d’Or’s prestigious, sacred and exceptional when we consider all the legends who’ve won it,” he added.
Historic Night for PSG
Nine PSG players have been nominated for the men’s Ballon d’Or this year, reflecting their Champions League triumph and domestic dominance. The club’s head coach Luis Enrique is also favourite to win the Men’s Coach of the Year award, though he too will miss the ceremony to lead his team against Marseille.
The 2024-25 campaign marked Dembélé’s finest as a professional. He scored 21 goals in Ligue 1, added eight more in the Champions League, and contributed six across the Club World Cup, Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions.
His main competitor appears to be Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who won last year’s Kopa Trophy and has continued his meteoric rise. PSG midfielder Vitinha, integral to the club’s success, and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah are also considered outside contenders.
Unprecedented Circumstances
Unlike previous years, there have been no credible leaks about the winner. France Football’s editor-in-chief, Vincent Garcia, claims to be the only person who knows the official result, adding extra intrigue to tonight’s ceremony.
The situation echoes last year’s controversy when Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony after learning Vinícius Júnior would not win, with Rodri ultimately claiming the prize. The uncertainty makes Dembélé’s attendance even more crucial.
The ceremony, beginning at 8pm Paris time, will also feature awards for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, with England’s Champions League winners Alessia Russo and Leah Williamson among the nominees. New categories for 2025 include the Women’s Yashin Trophy, Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy and Women’s Kopa Trophy.
A Night of Mixed Emotions
For PSG, tonight represents both triumph and frustration. Their star player is favourite to win football’s most coveted individual prize, recognition of the club’s finest ever season. Yet most of the squad will be absent, preparing for a match that could define their early season momentum.
Dembélé, accompanied by his reduced entourage, will hope to hear his name called at the Théâtre du Châtelet whilst his team-mates battle their fierce rivals 800 kilometres away in Marseille. It promises to be an extraordinary evening in French football, though not quite as PSG had envisioned when the season’s fixture list was first published.
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho is expected to present the trophy to this year’s winner, adding further glamour to what should be Dembélé’s crowning moment, even if celebrated without most of his PSG family present.
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