Overview

• Only France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia is said to know the winner, with even L'Équipe’s management kept out of the loop.
• Pre-ceremony interviews and photo shoots are now conducted the night of or the day after the event, replacing past decoys such as fake luggage and delayed trophy shipping.
• The 69th ceremony at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet is slated to run from 21:00 to just after 23:00 local time with the result revealed on stage.
• Ousmane Dembélé’s case features 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 games plus a haul that includes the Champions League, Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, the Trophée des Champions and the UEFA Super Cup.
• Lamine Yamal is widely cast as the chief rival on the strength of his influence and form, with analysts noting Ballon d'Or criteria on individual impact and team success and cautioning that PSG’s record nine nominees could split votes.