Why PSG and Real Madrid Are Not at Ballon d’Or 2025
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- 22.09.2025
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The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious awards in world football. Every year, the best footballers and coaches from across the globe gather to celebrate excellence on the pitch. However, for the 2025 edition of the Ballon d’Or, two of Europe’s biggest clubs — Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Real Madrid — will not be in attendance. In this article, we break down the reasons behind their absence, the key nominees from both clubs, and what it means for this year’s ceremony.
The Ballon d’Or, awarded by France Football since 1956, is football’s longest-running individual honour. It recognises the best male and female footballers in the world each year. Players are judged based on their performances over the previous season, including their contributions at club and international level.
With nominees from every major league, the Ballon d’Or has become a global celebration of talent, teamwork, and sporting excellence. The 2025 edition is expected to be one of the most competitive yet, with stars such as Ousmane Dembele, Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, and Aitana Bonmatí all in the mix.
Why PSG Will Not Attend the Ballon d’Or Ceremony
Paris Saint-Germain will not be at the Ballon d’Or event this year due to a scheduling conflict. The Ligue 1 giants are playing a rescheduled match against Olympique de Marseille — known as “Le Classique” — on Monday evening, the same time as the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.
The match, originally scheduled for Sunday, 21 September 2025, was postponed due to severe storms forecasted in the south of France. As a result, PSG’s squad and coaching staff must prioritise the crucial league fixture, leaving only a handful of players to represent the club at the Théâtre du Châtelet, where the ceremony takes place.
PSG Nominees for Ballon d’Or 2025
Despite their absence, PSG boasts an impressive nine nominations for this year’s awards. Key players include:
- Ousmane Dembele – PSG’s star forward and favourite to win the Ballon d’Or after a record-breaking season.
- Desire Doue – Highly rated for his creative midfield displays.
- Joao Neves – Portugal’s rising star with a Nations League title under his belt.
- Achraf Hakimi – The Moroccan fullback with an outstanding season.
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – A versatile attacker contributing heavily to PSG’s treble win.
- Nuno Mendes, Fabian Ruiz, and Vitinha – All instrumental in PSG’s domestic dominance.
Among these nominees, Dembele, Doue, and Neves are expected to attend the Ballon d’Or as they continue to recover from injuries and are not in the matchday squad. However, Hakimi, Kvaratskhelia, Mendes, Ruiz, and Vitinha will remain with PSG for the Marseille game.
Why Real Madrid Will Not Attend the Ballon d’Or Ceremony
Real Madrid, one of the most successful clubs in Ballon d’Or history, will also be absent for the second consecutive year. In 2024, the Spanish giants skipped the event after a controversial decision saw Vinicius Junior miss out on the award, which was instead given to Manchester City’s Rodri.
This year, their absence appears to be due to scheduling reasons. Real Madrid have a La Liga match against Levante on Tuesday evening and will remain focused on their domestic campaign rather than attending the ceremony in Paris.
Real Madrid’s History with the Ballon d’Or
Real Madrid has a rich history at the Ballon d’Or, with legends like Alfredo Di Stéfano, Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema all having won the prestigious prize while wearing the famous white shirt. In 2024, the club even won “Club of the Year,” while then-manager Carlo Ancelotti received the Men’s Coach Award.
Real Madrid Nominees for Ballon d’Or 2025
Despite their absence, three Real Madrid players are among the nominees for this year’s award:
- Jude Bellingham – The English midfield prodigy who has taken La Liga by storm.
- Kylian Mbappe – Real’s marquee signing, aiming to add a Ballon d’Or to his collection.
- Vinicius Junior – Determined to prove the voters wrong after last year’s disappointment.
Kylian Mbappe has already confirmed he will watch the ceremony on TV and publicly voiced his support for Ousmane Dembele to win the award. This shows that while Real Madrid will not be present physically, their players remain emotionally invested in the outcome.
The absence of two of Europe’s biggest clubs may slightly reduce the glitz and glamour of the ceremony, but it also highlights the intense football calendar that top teams face. For PSG, a crucial Ligue 1 clash takes priority over individual accolades. For Real Madrid, their decision reflects a shift toward focusing on domestic and European competitions rather than award shows.
Nevertheless, the Ballon d’Or remains the pinnacle of individual achievement in football. This year’s event promises to be exciting, with stars from Barcelona, Liverpool, Arsenal, and other clubs all vying for the men’s and women’s prizes.
This article originates from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything service, which is dedicated to answering fans’ most pressing questions about the world of sports. Whether it’s about the Ballon d’Or contenders, the youngest Champions League players, or new competition rules, the AMA team delivers expert insights directly from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom.
By drawing on a wide network of journalists, analysts, and insiders, Ask Me Anything brings you behind-the-scenes updates from some of the world’s biggest sporting events. Coverage spans the BBC Sport website, app, social media, YouTube, and even BBC TV and radio.
