Ballon d'Or favourite to play during ceremony, drama unfolds | OneFootball

PSG was set to play against Olympique de Marseille this Sunday (21st). And Dembélé and company would participate in the Ballon d'Or on Monday (22nd). But... there's DRAMA.

The risk of a storm postponed the game. The Ligue 1 regulations state that the match should be rescheduled for the following day.

PSG didn't like the idea because it would mean playing DURING the ceremony. Meanwhile, Olympique de Marseille "demanded" that the rule be followed.

The league's profile then confirmed the game for Monday (22nd) at 3 PM (Brasília time). The Ballon d'Or ceremony starts at 4 PM (Brasília time).

The winner of the men's Ballon d'Or will be the last to be announced. Before that, the ceremony will award, among others, the best clubs, best coaches, best goalkeepers...

But a flight from Marseille (game location) to Paris (award location) takes about 1h20.

Dembélé is injured and will not play. But the PSG squad (with several nominees) will likely miss the ceremony.

Besides Dembélé, Nuno Mendes, Hakimi, Desire Doué, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, João Neves, and Kvaratskhelia are also contenders for the award.

And, in addition to the Ballon d'Or with its players, PSG is also competing for the best club of the season award.

So, will Dembélé be at the Ballon d'Or? Or will the ceremony miss the likely winner of the award?

Dembélé is the big favorite. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, from Barcelona, appear as the main "threats," but as underdogs.

In its latest publication, PSG shared the news of the POSTPONEMENT. After the new date was confirmed, the club did not comment.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 FRANCK FIFE - AFP or licensors