Overview
- Ronaldinho has been selected to present the trophy at the Théâtre du Châtelet on Sept. 22, linking the stage to both PSG and Barcelona.
- Real Madrid’s boycott continues for a second year, with Kylian Mbappé confirming he will skip the gala and watch on television.
- Barcelona will send Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Pau Cubarsí with coach Hansi Flick, while nominees Pedri and Robert Lewandowski will not attend.
- Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher publicly backed Dembélé, and updated power rankings place him No. 1 ahead of Yamal.
- Dembélé’s treble-winning season for PSG (35 goals, 16 assists) is cited as decisive, with Yamal’s breakout Barcelona campaign keeping him as the main challenger.