Yamal and Ballon d’Or contenders add extra edge to PSG v Barcelona

The Ballon d’Or will provide an added subplot when Paris Saint-Germain host Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, with 13 of the 30 nominees involved in the fixture.

PSG have 10 candidates for football’s most prestigious individual award, including last year’s winner Ousmane Dembele. Barcelona have three nominees: last year’s runner-up Lamine Yamal, 2024 winner Rodri and defender Pau Cubarsi, who was also part of Spain’s triumphant World Cup side.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place in London next week, and the award has given this meeting extra significance despite the relatively limited stakes for two of Europe’s leading clubs under the competition’s new league phase format.

Created by France Football magazine in the 1950s, the prize carries particular importance in France and Spain. Barcelona and Real Madrid have both campaigned strongly on behalf of their preferred candidates, with Real Madrid backing Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe and Yamal have also made their own cases publicly. Yamal, the 19-year-old winger who helped Barcelona win La Liga before playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup triumph, told French sports daily L’Equipe: “I think all those who watch football understand the argument in my favour. I go out onto the pitch, I have fun, and I play well.

“Fortunately I have also won a lot of titles with Barca and in addition to that I won the most important title of all, the World Cup.

“But beyond that I think my way of playing is my strongest argument and what makes me different.”

The voting is conducted by journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings and is based solely on the previous season. Yamal has nevertheless begun the current campaign strongly, scoring a spectacular goal in Barcelona’s 5-2 La Liga victory at Betis last weekend.

PSG midfielder Vitinha, who finished third in the 2025 Ballon d’Or ranking, said his side were not intimidated by the teenager.

“I wouldn’t say we are afraid,” the 26-year-old Portugal playmaker said on Monday. “He is one of the best players in the world. What he does is incredible. He is exceptional. It is always interesting to play against these types of players, but not just him. We are facing a great team, not only Lamine.”

Dembele won the award last year after scoring 35 goals in all competitions and helping PSG secure their first UEFA Champions League title. His subsequent season was less outstanding, although he still scored 20 times, including in the final against Arsenal.

“I have never been the chosen one, but I worked hard and last year I was rewarded for a fantastic year,” said the 29-year-old France forward, responding to comments from Mbappe about the award. “This year we will see, but there is no pressure. I’m easy.”

PSG are pursuing a third consecutive UEFA Champions League title, but their strength may also make it difficult to identify one clear Ballon d’Or favourite. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was arguably last season’s best player in the competition, but the Georgia winger did not play at the World Cup.

Fabian Ruiz won both the UEFA Champions League and World Cup, although he does not possess the profile of a global superstar. Ferran Torres, meanwhile, left Barcelona for PSG after scoring the only goal in the World Cup final, but is not considered a realistic winner.

PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said: “I have big respect for both Kylian and Yamal. They are amazing players.

“But I would go for sure for my players. We have three players: Dembele, ‘Kvara’ and also Fabian Ruiz, who is the only one to have won all the trophies. They deserve it.”