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Ballon d'Or organisers make major protocol change to prestigious ceremony
Sep 22 2025 11:38 · By Kostas Lianos/Kostas Lianos · 131 Reads
BALLON D'OR chiefs have made a major protocol change to avoid a repeat of last year's drama with Real Madrid.
The esteemed award ceremony takes place tonight in Paris where a host of football's biggest stars will be honoured.
3 Ballon d'Or chiefs have made a major change to avoid last year's controversy with Real Madrid Credit: FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
3 There will be no forecasts of the eventual winner until the last moment Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
3 That is to avoid the same drama as last year with Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr Credit: Ruben Albarran/ZUMA Press Wire
According to Marca , however, this year's event will be much different than what we are used to because of one major alteration.
The winner will now NOT be told in advance.
That comes after the huge drama surrounding Vinicius Jr missing out to Manchester City star Rodri last season.
Los Blancos learned in the morning of the ceremony that Vinicius would not be winning the award.
And, disagreeing with that decision, the whole delegation of players and club officials BOYCOTTED the ceremony at the last minute.
They had been ready to jet to Paris when they received the news.
This year there is also no clear standout to win the men's Ballon d'Or .
Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele is the bookies' favourite after starring in their Champions League-winning campaign.
Odds from talkSPORT BET
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal and Liverpool's Mo Salah - after his record-breaking Premier League season - are also in the running.
But the winner was allegedly leaked on Monday morning , suggesting Dembele will be victorious.
However, there are also favourites in the Ballon d'Or's other categories.
That includes the likes of Man Cty signing Gianluigi Donnarumma for best goalkeeper and PSG boss Luis Enrique for best manager.
PSG star Desire Doue and Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal could be set for a close call in terms of the best young player.