The Golden Ball ignites the European summit between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain

Spanish club Barcelona will host Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in the second round of the league stage of the new European competition on Wednesday, October 1, just one week after the Ballon d'Or ceremony, scheduled for September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris . The match between Barça and Paris Saint-Germain is one of the most exciting matches of the league season, and the date of the match adds even more excitement to the clash between the Catalan and French teams. UEFA has revealed the tournament schedule and the Barcelona-PSG match in the second round, making the French team's visit to Spain just one week after the Ballon d'Or ceremony an exciting opportunity to follow the most nominated players for the award. The winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or has yet to be determined, and players from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona stand out among the most prominent candidates. The Champions League holders have nine players nominated for the Best FIFA Men's Player award for last season: Dembélé, Donnarumma, Desiree Doue, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Fabian, and Vitinha, while Barcelona's list of 30 nominees includes Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Pedri, and Robert Lewandowski . According to Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the most prominent candidates for the Ballon d'Or from Paris Saint-Germain are French strikers Dembélé and Doue. Former Barcelona player Dembélé was the best player in the Champions League last season and the top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals, while youngster Doue had a great season, winning the MVP award in the Champions League final and the Best Young Player award . On the other hand, Barcelona has strong candidates to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or, thanks to its players Lamine Yamal and Rafinha. The Barça talent continues to shine with goals and assists, and many consider him the best player in the world. Meanwhile, Brazilian Rafinha was the Champions League's top scorer with 13 goals and put in strong performances in the tournament, achieving the best season of his career . The Barcelona-Paris Saint-Germain match after the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony will witness an additional, exciting encounter, as fans will discover the winner of the award, adding an exciting dimension to the direct confrontation between the player who will win the Ballon d'Or and others who have come close to achieving glory.