PSG attends with multiple nominees at Ballon d'Or gala, unlike Real Madrid

Unlike Real Madrid, PSG was present on Monday evening at the Theatre du Chatelet for the 68th Ballon d’Or ceremony, where Rodri was honoured as the top male player.

Six PSG players were in the running for an award, and the club was also nominated in the Women’s Club of the Year category.

A year after Lionel Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or win, the award returned to the Theatre du Chatelet for its 68th ceremony, hosted once again by Didier Drogba and Sandy Heribert.

PSG had just one player shortlisted for the men’s Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious award of the evening, with Vitinha making his debut appearance in the top 30, finishing at a respectable 27th place.

Though Vinicius Jr had been tipped as a favourite, it was the Spanish and European champion Rodri who claimed the trophy, arriving on stage with crutches after suffering a severe knee injury last month.

Former PSG player George Weah, the 1995 Ballon d’Or winner, presented him with the award.

Manchester City and Spain’s midfield maestro finished ahead of Brazilian star Vinicius and Jude Bellingham in the 2024 ranking, while former PSG player Kylian Mbappe secured 6th place, thanks to his 52 goals last season (44 of which were scored with PSG).

This goal tally also earned him, along with Harry Kane, the Gerd Muller Award for top scorer of the season.

It’s worth noting that Real Madrid was conspicuously absent from the ceremony, despite other awards won.

The Spanish club reportedly boycotted the event after learning that Vinicius Jr would not be winning the Ballon d’Or. So, is that what a “great institution” does?

PSG attends with multiple nominees at Ballon d'Or gala, unlike Real Madrid

Returning to PSG, the club had two players in contention for the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best player under 21.

Unsurprisingly, Spanish and European champion Lamine Yamal (17) took home the trophy, but Joao Neves (6th) and Warren Zaire-Emery (8th) finished in the top 10, chosen by a jury of former Ballon d’Or winners.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was also nominated for the Yashin Trophy, which honours the best goalkeeper, and placed 4th behind Andriy Lunin (3rd, Real Madrid), Unai Simon (2nd, Athletic Bilbao), and Emiliano Martinez (1st, Aston Villa).

PSG’s Italian goalkeeper had won the award in 2021 but wasn’t among the top 10 finalists in 2022 and 2023.

Finally, two PSG players were also nominated for the women’s Ballon d’Or, which was won, as last year, by Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto achieved the highest ranking of her career, finishing 7th after placing 18th in 2021 and 17th in 2022. Grace Geyoro came in 30th and criticised her ranking on social media.

The Women’s Club of the Year trophy, for which PSG was nominated, went to FC Barcelona, hardly a surprise, as the Catalan side achieved a quadruple in 2023/2024, winning the Women’s Champions League, the Spanish league, the Cup, and the Spanish Super Cup.

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