Being a sports journalist comes with its own set of privileges.

Among them is the rare opportunity to witness football’s grandest nights from the heart of the action — whether it’s the Champions League final, the World Cup final, or the annual Ballon d’Or gala. Fortunately, unlike Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds, we didn’t need to bring binoculars or pliers along for the ride.

After receiving our official accreditation for this year’s glittering ceremony, FourFourTwo made its way to central Paris, to the Theatre du Chatelet — a 2,500-seat venue located just a short walk from both the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Louvre.

As the evening approached, the banks of the River Seine were flooded with excitement. The area around the theatre was packed hours before the event began.

The Ballon d’Or has deep roots in Paris. The award, first introduced by France Football in 1956, predates the very existence of Paris Saint-Germain. Since the club’s formation in 1970, only once had a PSG player claimed football’s most prestigious individual honour.

That occasion came in 2021, when Lionel Messi triumphed — though his win owed more to his Copa America victory with Argentina than to his brief spell at the Parc des Princes.

George Weah, who spent much of 1995 dazzling fans in PSG colours, had already joined AC Milan by the time he lifted the Ballon d’Or that year.

This time, however, things were different.

For the first time ever, a current PSG player was on the verge of winning the award for achievements that had brought unprecedented glory to the club — the team’s first-ever Champions League title.

Outside the Theatre du Chatelet, the atmosphere was electric. Banners of support for Ousmane Dembele waved proudly, PSG jerseys filled the streets, and chants of “Et Ousmane, Ballon d’Or” echoed from every direction.

Amid the jubilation, FFT joined the red carpet, spotting football icons like Ronaldinho and Andres Iniesta, the latter exuding the same grace he once displayed on the pitch. PSG’s Champions League hero Gianluigi Donnarumma also made an appearance, receiving a warm reception despite now playing for Manchester City.

Dembele was the last to arrive, heightening the tension. As rumours spread through the buzzing crowd, many wondered whether the hometown favourite would indeed be crowned. This year’s ceremony was shrouded in secrecy — even the winners were kept in the dark until the very last moment.

The Ballon d’Or remains football’s equivalent of the Oscars — an intoxicating mix of prestige, glamour, and suspense.

With no leaks to rely on — unlike the previous year when Rodri’s win was preceded by Real Madrid’s dramatic boycott — journalists and guests tried to read expressions for clues.

Dembele had been the frontrunner ever since leading PSG to a historic Champions League victory in Munich in late May. Yet, mere hours before the gala, whispers began circulating that Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal might pull off an upset.

“What if he does?” murmured members of Barcelona’s delegation, led by club president Joan Laporta, whose trademark optimism was on full display. When the seating plan was adjusted to move Barça’s contingent closer to the front, speculation grew further. Even co-host Ruud Gullit joked about seeing Yamal back on stage after presenting him the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player of the year.

But ultimately, the night belonged to Ousmane Dembele.

Backstage after receiving his award, Dembele shared a heartfelt embrace with Yamal, the promising 18-year-old runner-up. The young Spaniard took solace in the moment — after all, finishing second placed him above legends like Eric Cantona, Steven Gerrard, Samuel Eto’o and Francesco Totti, who never reached such a height.

Outside, hundreds of PSG supporters broke into chants celebrating Dembele’s triumph, their voices filling the Parisian night. For the club’s fans, the celebration had only just begun. This was a night that would forever mark PSG’s history, a night that felt like a coronation.

“A few years ago, this would have been unimaginable. Luis Enrique changed Dembele’s life,” one fan told us, anxiously hoping to catch a glimpse of the star for a picture or autograph.

Unfortunately, Enrique himself couldn’t attend. PSG’s Ligue 1 clash against Marseille had been postponed due to storm warnings and rescheduled for the same evening as the ceremony.

“It’s unfortunate that Luis Enrique and his players couldn’t be here — France missed a chance to shine on a night that should have been about national pride,” remarked a French journalist nearby.

Dembele, nursing a hamstring injury, managed to attend — something that might not have been possible had he been fit to play. The event could have been a subdued affair without his presence.

As the evening wound down, Yamal departed surrounded by a heavy security detail of more than 20 personnel, his face barely visible amid the crowd. By contrast, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati, who made history by winning the Ballon d’Or Féminin for a third consecutive year, was far more accessible.

“We’re vacationing in Paris, so we came to see her,” a young Catalan girl told FFT outside the venue. “I fell in love with football because of players like her and Alexia Putellas.”

Unfortunately, not everyone behaved admirably. Barcelona’s delegation had to leave amid some unpleasant remarks from sections of the crowd, with Yamal bearing the brunt of the hostility.

Meanwhile, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was met with warm applause as he greeted the club’s ultras, who have elevated him to near-mythical status since PSG’s European triumph. “Merci, president!” they chanted proudly.

Speaking briefly to FFT before departing, Al-Khelaifi said, “Dembele deserved it more than anyone — he’s a role model for all.”

When Dembele himself appeared, the crowd’s chants made him laugh. The 28-year-old, visibly moved, attempted to leave quietly, hoping to celebrate later with his close circle.

As fans lit celebratory flares, Dembele lifted the golden trophy high, leaning over the barrier to let some supporters touch it — a symbolic gesture of gratitude to those who had stood by him.

With this award, Dembele knows that life under the spotlight will only intensify. Yet, for this moment, he was the king of Paris.

Across the street, police officers maintained order while allowing fans to continue their festivities. “Put out the flares,” they instructed the Collectif Ultras Paris, who complied to keep the celebrations alive late into the night.

“We’ll win the Champions League again,” one fan shouted confidently, riding the wave of PSG’s historic success.

And throughout the Parisian night, one chant continued to rise above all others:

“Ousmane, Ballon d’Or.”