PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to miss Ballon dOr ceremony

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi will not attend Monday evening’s Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium, despite 10 players from the French club being included among the 30 nominees for the prestigious award.

According to French radio station RMC, Al-Khelaifi has chosen to remain in Paris to support Paris Saint-Germain in their rearranged Ligue 1 fixture against Olympique Lyonnais at the Parc des Princes.

The match is a postponed game from the eighth round of the French top flight.

Al-Khelaifi’s absence comes as Paris Saint-Germain are strongly represented on the Ballon d’Or shortlist. However, only Ousmane Dembele will attend the ceremony on behalf of the club.

Dembele, 29, is the reigning Ballon d’Or winner and is among the candidates to retain the award.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will also miss the event as he prepares to undergo knee surgery. Nuno Mendes and seven other Paris Saint-Germain players named in manager Luis Enrique’s squad for the meeting with Lyon are likewise unavailable to attend the ceremony.

The fixture information associated with the Ligue 1 schedule lists Le Havre for 30 October 2026, while Paris Saint-Germain’s match with Lyon is listed for 31 October 2026. Angers are also included in the schedule.