Ballon d’Or 2026: Dembele set to attend London ceremony despite PSG absence

Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele will attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday, according to French broadcaster RMC.

Mbappe is due to travel to the British capital after playing for Real Madrid against Barcelona in Sunday’s El Clasico. Dembele, who won the award last year, is also expected to make the journey in the coming hours.

Dembele will not be involved when Paris Saint-Germain face Olympique Lyonnais on Monday evening because of a thigh injury. His absence means he will miss his club’s match on the same night as the Ballon d’Or ceremony, just as he did last year.

The availability of the rest of the Paris Saint-Germain delegation remains uncertain.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is expected to undergo surgery very soon to treat an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee. The operation could take place in Doha, although the timing and location have not been confirmed.

Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos is also yet to confirm whether he will attend. The defender suffered a right-thigh injury during the team’s 4-2 match against Barcelona.

Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is another doubt. He regularly travels to London for professional reasons and is expected to decide whether he will be present at the ceremony at the last moment.

Paris Saint-Germain face the same scheduling conflict as last year, with a fixture taking place on the evening of the Ballon d’Or event. On that occasion, the French club lost 1-0 to Olympique de Marseille.

Dembele’s expected appearance in London follows the same pattern as last year. Despite being injured and unavailable for his club’s match, he was still able to travel to the ceremony, where he received the award.

The closeness of the leading candidates’ chances has increased the anticipation surrounding this year’s event. Both Mbappe and Dembele are therefore expected to be in London, although the availability of several senior Paris Saint-Germain figures remains unresolved.