PSG players set to miss Ballon d'Or ceremony

Paris Saint-Germain players are set to miss the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday (September 22) because of a controversial decision made by Ligue 1 officials. The Parisians' hugely successful past year is set to be celebrated in Paris when the awards showpiece takes place in the French capital.

Several of Luis Enrique's European champions are nominated for awards, including Ousmane Dembele, who is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or. The French attacker was excellent as his side won the Champions League, winning the competition's Player of the Tournament award.

Dembele hasn't been in action in recent weeks because of a hamstring injury suffered earlier this month during the international break. The 28-year-old is expected to be sidelined for another four weeks but could be present for Monday night's ceremony.

PSG were set to face rivals Marseille in Ligue 1 action on Sunday (September 21), but bad weather forced Le Classique to be called off. Ligue 1 officials confirmed the game's postponement six hours before kick-off at the Stade Velodrome.

The match will now be played on Monday as per the Ligue de Football Professionnel's rules, and it will clash with the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris on the same night.

Enrique had been expected to be honoured on Monday with the Johan Cruyff Trophy (Best Coach of the Year), but is now likely to be too busy coaching his side against their fierce rivals to pick up his award. Vitinha, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes are also nominated for the Ballon d'Or itself and are outsiders to claim the award.

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Dembele's injury means he isn't affected by the match taking place at the same time as the ceremony and will be able to be presented with the award if he prevails as expected. But he'll do so without having his teammates in attendance to celebrate his feat.

Here is the complete list of the Men's Ballon d'Or 2025 nominees:

Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)

Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain)

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester City)

Désiré Doué (France, Paris Saint-Germain)

Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands, Inter)

Serhou Guirassy (Guinea, Borussia Dortmund)

Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden, Sporting CP/Arsenal)

Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)

Harry Kane (England, Bayern)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Napoli/Paris Saint-Germain)