All set for the Ballon d’Or gala in Paris

Monday sees the gala for the Ballon d’Or award take place in Paris, France. All eyes will be on Barça striker Leo Messi as the Argentine is in line for the prize given to the best player of the year for the sixth time in his career. After winning his first Ballon d’Or back in 2009, the Barça number 10 has also taken the award in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

In the long list of 30 candidates for the award, Barça players Marc-André ter Stegen, Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong were also nominated. Barça Women striker Lieke Martens is nominated for the women's award but will not be travelling to Paris. 

Ceremony in the Théâtre du Châtelet

The four Barça players will form part of the official FC Barcelona party that also includes president Josep Maria Bartomeu, the board director responsible for the first team Javier Bordas, the Club CEO Òscar Grau, the technical secretary Éric Abidal, the director of Sporting and Institutional Relations Guillermo Amore and Barça Legends player and 1994 Ballon d’Or, Hristo Stoichkov.

The 2019 Ballon d’Or gala in the Théâtre du Châtelet in the French capital is set to start at 8.30pm CET with the awards ceremony culminating in the presentation of the men’s Ballon d’Or at approximately 9.50pm CET.

Ter Stegen and Lieke Martens also up for awards

Barça Women striker Lieke Martens is on the shortlist of 20 players for the women’s Ballon d’Or, also chosen by the jury from the prestigious magazine France Football. Finally, blaugrana Marc-André ter Stegen is also on the shortlist of 10 for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper of the year.