Why Several PSG Players Will Miss the Ballon d'Or Ceremony

Because they have to play Lyon on Monday night, several PSG players will not be able to travel to London for the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony. This affects the Parisians among the thirty finalists for the trophy, as well as the secondary awards.

The paradox repeats itself. As last year, PSG must play a Ligue 1 showdown on the night of the Ballon d'Or ceremony. They host Lyon on Monday night because the Professional Football League postponed the match at the Paris Police Prefecture's request due to planned protests and the American football game scheduled for Sunday at the Stade de France.

A PSG vs. Lyon match that will therefore take place at the same time as the Ballon d'Or ceremony, exceptionally held in London. The Parisian delegation should have been the best represented, since the capital club broke the record for players named among the thirty finalists, with ten representatives this year, plus nominees in the secondary awards. In the end, only a handful of them should travel to England.

Coincidence or a sign of fate? As last year, Ousmane Dembélé is currently injured. The reigning Ballon d'Or winner has a hamstring injury and will miss the Lyon match anyway. He could travel to London, even if his chances of winning the individual trophy are lower than in 2025.

Nuno Mendes and Marquinhos are also out against Lyon and could join the trip to the English capital. The two Parisian defenders are among the Ballon d'Or finalists.

Uncertainty remains around Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian is among those who could win the Grail Monday night, but everything presumably depends on his health and ability to travel, just days after he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. At the time of the ceremony, he will not yet have undergone surgery.

These four players will not be on the field on Monday. Meanwhile, the other six PSG nominees will have to give up on the London evening. Hakimi, Neves, Pacho, Ruiz, Vitinha and Torres are on the list of thirty but will certainly be at the Parc des Princes for PSG vs. Lyon.

The same goes for Zaïre-Emery, nominated for the France Football Young Talent of the Season trophy, and Matvey Safonov, nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Season trophy.

Luis Enrique will not travel to London either, but he should be less affected than some of his players. The Spaniard, nominated among the five finalists for Coach of the Season and last season's winner, attaches little importance to these individual awards.