The night that should have glittered with football’s biggest individual prize turned into a logistical nightmare. A sudden storm in southern France forced Marseille to shift its Ligue 1 showdown with Paris Saint‑Germain to the exact slot the Ballon d'Or 2025 ceremony was set to start in Paris. Suddenly, nine PSG players found themselves torn between a trophy ceremony and a historic derby, and fans heard whispers that the winner’s name might already be out.
Why the clash happened and who’s affected
On Monday, September 22, the French football calendar was supposed to run like clockwork: the Ballon d'Or gala at the Palais des Congrès, then a relaxed night for the city’s elite. But a freak rainstorm slammed the Bouches‑du‑Rhône region, turning the Orange Vélodrome’s pitch into a slick mess. Marseille’s officials announced an emergency reschedule, moving the match to 8 p.m. the same evening – right when the awards were due to roll out.
Security teams cited the weather as a genuine safety risk, and the club’s statement stressed that player welfare and fan safety came first. The downside? The match now directly overlapped with the awards, forcing PSG’s nine nominees to make a painful choice.
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Desire Doué
- Achraf Hakimi
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Nuno Mendes
- João Neves
- Fabián Ruiz
- Vitinha
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (now at Manchester City)
For most of them, the goalkeeper’s image is the easiest – he’s already in England, so he’ll likely skip the gala. The outfield players, however, face a classic dilemma: miss a career‑defining night or leave the club in a crucial league clash that could swing the title race.
In a surprising twist, three of the nominated PSG men – Dembélé, Doué and João Neves – are nursing injuries that keep them out of the derby. Because they’re already sidelined, they plan to dress up for the awards instead. The rest of the squad, including star full‑backs Hakimi and Vitinha, are expected to travel to Marseille, suiting up for what many call "Le Classique 2.0".
Leaks, absences and the bigger picture
Adding fuel to the fire, several outlets reported that the winner’s identity had slipped to a few insiders hours before the official announcement. Names circulating in the rumor mill were Dembélé, who’s had a sensational season despite injury setbacks, and Lamine Yamal – the 17‑year‑old Barcelona prodigy who’s been lighting up the Europa League.
Even if the leak proves false, the chatter underscores how fragile the ceremony’s mystique has become. The Ballon d’Or, once an almost sacrosanct affair, now wrestles with club politics, scheduling chaos, and a social media era where any slip can become a headline.
Two notable absences intensified the drama. Kylian Mbappé, who missed the gala the previous year, stayed in Paris with his club duties, while Real Madrid sent no representatives at all. Their double‑year silence raises eyebrows about the relationship between Europe’s biggest clubs and the French magazine that hands out the award.
Marseille’s officials expressed regret over the timing, acknowledging the inconvenience for travelling fans and for PSG’s nominated players who had already booked tickets. They highlighted that weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable, making it harder to lock in dates for high‑profile events that sit on top of the football calendar.
For the ceremony organizers, the night now looks very different. They must decide whether to proceed with a trimmed guest list, re‑arrange the seating plan, or perhaps offer a live‑stream link for the players on the pitch. Maintaining the prestige of the award while adapting to real‑world constraints will be a delicate balancing act.
Meanwhile, fans in Paris who arrived early found themselves watching the ceremony on a smaller stage, while supporters in Marseille cheered on a match that felt like it carried the weight of an award night. The whole episode is a reminder that football’s biggest moments are still at the mercy of weather, logistics, and the ever‑growing demands of a global sport.
