Paris is buzzing as football royalty descends upon the Châtelet Theater for the prestigious Ballon d’or ceremony. This year, a familiar face from Brazil’s golden generation, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is set to take the stage, adding a touch of magic to the presentation of the world’s most coveted individual football award. The former Seleção superstar is already in the French capital, ready to hand over the golden trophy to the player deemed the best on the planet by France Football magazine.

Ronaldinho’s role as presenter was confirmed by his representatives, a move that’s sure to ignite nostalgia among fans who remember his dazzling displays. While the focus is on the nominees, the presence of “R10” is a significant talking point. Brazil has two strong contenders in the running: barcelona’s Raphinha and Real Madrid’s electrifying winger, Vinícius Jr. Raphinha, in particular, is being touted as a dark horse, with many analysts placing him as the third favorite.

The primary contenders for this year’s award are widely believed to be Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé, 28, and Barcelona‘s prodigious talent, lamine Yamal, just 18. France Football has adopted a cloak-and-dagger approach to the winner’s announcement, mirroring the secrecy of the Academy Awards. This confidentiality, a departure from previous years where winners were notified in advance to ensure attendance, aims to build suspense and prevent premature leaks.

The Ballon d’Or, a tradition dating back to 1956, is decided by a vote of 100 specialized journalists, with one representative from each nation. It’s crucial to distinguish this award from the FIFA The Best award, presented annually by the sport’s governing body. The period between 2010 and 2015, when the two awards were merged, still causes occasional confusion for fans trying to keep track of football’s top honors.

Ronaldinho’s appearance could be interpreted as a subtle hint towards a particular player’s chances, but in this instance, it’s more likely a celebration of football’s rich history. After all, Ronaldinho left an indelible mark on both PSG and Barcelona during his illustrious career, making his presence a fitting tribute to the clubs represented by the leading nominees.

Adding an captivating twist to the evening, PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé will be attending the ceremony despite his team’s crucial French League fixture against Olympique Marseille. The match,originally scheduled for Sunday,was postponed due to severe weather,forcing a clash with the Ballon d’or event. this scheduling conflict means that a significant portion of the PSG contingent, including other nominees like Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, will be absent from the Châtelet Theater.

PSG reportedly expressed frustration with the French league’s decision to schedule the match at the same time as the Ballon d’Or. Attempts to reschedule the game for earlier on Monday or even into December were met with resistance from Olympique Marseille, their fierce rivals.The sports daily L’Équipe, which shares ownership with France Football, also voiced its disapproval of the scheduling decision in a published article, highlighting the tension between club commitments and prestigious individual awards.