Ballon d’Or 2025: Paris Awaits Football’s Brightest Stars
The football world is buzzing as the full list of nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or has been officially revealed. Co-organised by UEFA and Groupe Amaury, owner of France Football and L’Équipe, this prestigious award promises a thrilling celebration of football’s finest talents. Presented annually since 1956, the Ballon d’Or remains the most distinguished accolade a footballer can receive, honoring outstanding achievements and exceptional talent on the pitch. This year marks the 69th edition of the ceremony, highlighting its enduring legacy within the beautiful game.
Fans worldwide are marking their calendars for Monday, September 22, when the event will take place at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The night celebrates individual brilliance, team triumphs, and the spirit of fair play. Criteria for the award focus on three pillars: individual performance and character, team achievements, and sportsmanship, reflecting the core values of football.
Expanding Recognition: Awards and Categories
The 2025 ceremony introduces a comprehensive array of categories celebrating excellence across the sport. Beyond the Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or, awards include recognition for young talents, goalkeepers, and top scorers. New and renamed honors enhance the prestige, including the Men’s and Women’s Kopa Trophy for best young player, the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, and the Gerd Müller Trophy for top scorer in club or national team competitions.
The Coach of the Year award has been renamed the Johan Cruyff Trophy, honoring the legendary football visionary. The Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year Trophies highlight teams demonstrating exceptional collective success. The Socrates Award, presented by L’Équipe group and Peace and Sport, acknowledges footballers’ humanitarian efforts, showcasing their impact beyond the pitch.
Ousmane Dembélé and PSG’s Historic Season
Ousmane Dembélé leads the Men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist after an exceptional season with Paris Saint-Germain, scoring a career-high 35 goals and helping PSG secure a historic treble including the Champions League. Guillem Balague remarked, “This could be the final that shows everyone why Ousmane Dembele must win the Ballon d’Or. He just needs a coronation, a universal coronation if you like; he just needs the perfect night in a final like this.
PSG’s historic 2024-25 season is further reflected by the number of players making the final 30-man shortlist. Alongside Dembélé, teammates Gianluigi Donnarumma, Désiré Doué, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Fabián Ruiz, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, and João Neves earned nominations. Mendes, Vitinha, and Neves contributed to Portugal’s Nations League victory, adding to their remarkable season narratives.
European Giants and Premier League Contenders
Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal is another exciting nominee, having played a pivotal role in winning the Spanish league title. Comparisons to Lionel Messi underscore his exceptional talent. Barcelona teammates Robert Lewandowski and Pedri also feature after their team’s La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup triumphs, reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
Premier League nominees include Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, and newcomer Florian Wirtz, as well as Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres and Declan Rice. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland are among other contenders. Scott McTominay earns his first nomination following Napoli’s Serie A title. Notably, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are absent from the shortlist for the second consecutive year.
According to Polymarket odds on August 7, Ousmane Dembélé holds an 80% chance of winning, leading Lamine Yamal at 8%, Vitinha at 5%, and Mohamed Salah at 1.9%, setting up a dramatic finale.
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Dominance and Rising Stars
Barcelona continues to assert its dominance in women’s football, leading the Ballon d’Or nominations with Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, and Clàudia Pina. Their collective performances have solidified the club’s status as a powerhouse in Europe. England also shines with key nominees Chloe Kelly, Lucy Bronze, and Hannah Hampton, each having delivered standout performances for both club and country during the season.
Other notable nominees—Sandy Baltimore, Barbra Banda, Melchie Dumornay, Marta, and Leah Williamson—highlight the global depth of talent in women’s football, reflecting the sport’s expanding competitive landscape. These players have excelled across leagues, international tournaments, and continental competitions, setting the stage for a fiercely contested award.
Emerging Talent, Goalkeepers, and Coaching Excellence
The Kopa Trophy recognizes the brightest young stars in men’s and women’s football. Lamine Yamal’s dual nomination underscores his extraordinary impact, while other male prospects include Pau Cubarsí, Désiré Doué, and Kenan Yıldız. On the women’s side, promising talents like Michelle Agyemang and Vicky López are gaining recognition for their breakthrough performances.
Goalkeepers are celebrated through the Yashin Trophy, with Gianluigi Donnarumma leading the Men’s category, joined by Alisson Becker and Thibaut Courtois. For women, Hannah Hampton, Cata Coll, and Chiamaka Nnadozie vie for the prestigious award. Meanwhile, the Gerd Müller Trophy honors Europe’s top goal scorers, highlighting consistent finishing prowess without a pre-announced shortlist.
Coaching achievements are recognized with the Johan Cruyff Trophy. Men’s nominees include Antonio Conte, Luis Enrique, and Arne Slot, while Sarina Wiegman, Sonia Bompastor, and Arthur Elias feature in the women’s category. Club of the Year honors celebrate collective excellence, with Barcelona, Botafogo, Chelsea, Liverpool, and PSG highlighted in men’s football, and Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, OL Lyonnes, and Orlando Pride recognized among women’s teams.
The 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony on September 22 promises to be an unforgettable celebration of football. Fans eagerly await the unveiling of football’s most coveted individual honors, recognizing the finest players, emerging talents, goalkeepers, scorers, coaches, and clubs. With seasoned veterans and breakout stars competing, the 2025 edition sets the stage for a thrilling race to footballing excellence.
