Football’s biggest individual prize, the Ballon d’Or, is back, and the 2025 race is shaping up to be a banger. Today, the stacked list of 30 nominees was announced, as well as the nominees for the Yashin Trophy, Coach of the Year, Pichichi and Kopa Trophies.
The ceremony, set for September 22, 2025, at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet, promises drama, surprises, and maybe a few raised eyebrows. Let’s break down the frontrunners, spotlight a dark horse, and peek at the other awards stealing the spotlight this year.
All the Ballon d’Or information
The Ballon d’Or Nominees
| Rank | Player Name | Club/Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool |
| 2 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
| 3 | Ousmane Dembélé | PSG |
| 4 | Vinicius Jr. | Real Madrid |
| 5 | Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool |
| 6 | Vitinha | PSG |
| 7 | Florian Wirtz | Bayer Leverkusen/Liverpool |
| 8 | Fabian Ruiz | PSG |
| 9 | Declan Rice | Arsenal |
| 10 | Raphinha | Barcelona |
| 11 | Michael Olise | PSG |
| 12 | Cole Palmer | Chelsea |
| 13 | Pedri | Barcelona |
| 14 | Joao Neves | PSG |
| 15 | Nuno Mendes | PSG |
| 16 | Kvicha Kvaratskhelia | PSG |
| 17 | Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid |
| 18 | Scott McTominay | Napoli |
| 19 | Lautaro Martinez | Inter |
| 20 | Alexis Mac Allister | Liverpool |
| 21 | Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona |
| 22 | Harry Kane | Bayern Munich |
| 23 | Achraf Hakimi | PSG |
| 24 | Viktor Gyökeres | Sporting CP/Arsenal |
| 25 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City |
| 26 | Serhou Guirassy | Borussia Dortmund |
| 27 | Denzel Dumfries | Inter |
| 28 | Desire Doué | PSG |
| 29 | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid |
| 30 | Gianluigi Donnarumma | PSG |
Ousmane Dembélé
Ousmane Dembélé is the name on everyone’s lips. The PSG winger has been a force of nature, racking up 33 goals and 13 assists in 49 games during their treble-winning season (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Champions League). His speed, flair, and knack for big moments have turned heads.
There were times were it seemed that Dembele had all the talent but never the execution. He’s changed that now. It’s not just his stats; it’s the way he dances past defenders like they’re cones in a training drill. He’s a Ballon d’Or frontrunner.
Lamine Yamal
At just 18, Lamine Yamal is making grown men look silly. Barcelona’s wonderkid posted 18 goals and 21 assists this season, numbers that shout current and future legend of the game. His ability to glide through tight spaces and deliver pinpoint passes feels like watching a video game character with maxed-out stats. Yamal’s youth adds a wild card: voters love a story, and a teenager snagging the Ballon d’Or would be one for the ages.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah is like a fine wine, getting better with age. Liverpool’s talisman led them to the Premier League title, and his consistency is absurd. Goals, assists, leadership – he’s got it all. He was the Premier League’s top scorer with 29 goals and also the top assister with 18 assists. Ridiculous.
Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid was the transfer saga of the decade, and he’s delivered. Top scorer in his first season in La Liga. Madness. Moving like CR7 15 years ago. His blistering pace and clinical finishing have lit it up.
Mbappé’s numbers are gaudy, but it’s his aura that sets him apart – he walks onto the pitch like he owns it. Real Madrid’s success in Europe and domestically gives him a platform, but has he done enough to outshine Dembélé’s treble? It’s a tight call. One thing’s sure: Mbappé’s hunger for the Ballon d’Or is palpable.
Desire Doué
Desire Doué, another PSG gem, is the wildcard in this race. At 20, he’s already turning heads with his versatility and composure. Whether he’s breaking lines with a dribble or picking out a killer pass, Doué plays with a maturity beyond his years. His role in PSG’s treble run, though not as loud as Dembélé’s, has voters intrigued. Two goals in the Champions League final is nasty. A nomination for both the Ballon d’Or and Kopa Trophy shows his stock is skyrocketing. Could he sneak into the top five? Don’t be surprised.
Read our Ballon d’Or piece from March here!
Who’s winning the race for the Ballon d’Or?
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Goalkeepers rarely get the Ballon d’Or love, but Gianluigi Donnarumma is making a case. PSG’s treble owes a lot to his heroics between the sticks. Those sprawling saves in the Champions League knockouts? Pure class. That save from the lethal Martin Odegaard strike in the UCL semi-finals was wild.
Donnarumma’s presence gives PSG a backbone, and his Yashin Trophy nomination only strengthens his resume. A goalkeeper winning the big prize feels like a long shot, but if anyone can make history, it’s this Italian giant.
Lautaro Martinez
Lautaro Martinez has been Inter Milan’s heartbeat. The Argentine striker’s goals powered Inter to another Serie A title, and his work off the ball is relentless. 24 goals this season for Inter.
He’s not just a poacher; he’s a leader, dragging his team through gritty matches. Martinez’s Copa América exploits with Argentina add international clout.
Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius Jr. is a human highlight reel. His dribbles are audacious, his goals are spectacular, and his energy is infectious. Real Madrid’s success in La Liga and Europe leans heavily on his ability to turn games on their head. He’s been in the Ballon d’Or conversation before, but 2025 feels like his year to shine. The question is whether his flair outshines Dembélé’s trophy haul. It’s a close call, and voters might lean toward the Brazilian’s charisma.
Raphinha
Raphinha had a goated Champions League campaign. He doesn’t always get the headlines, but Barcelona fans know his worth. He had the second-best individual campaign ever in the UCL, surpassing any season that Messi ever had with Barcelona.
His work rate, combined with lethal finishing and playmaking, has been crucial for Barça’s resurgence. He’s not the loudest name on the list, but his contributions are undeniable.
Scott McTominay – less likely, but what a resurgence
Let’s talk about Scott McTominay. Yes, that Scott McTominay. The former Manchester United midfielder, now thriving at Napoli, has had a fairy-tale rise. From a squad player to a Ballon d’Or nominee, his journey is wild. At Napoli, he’s found his groove, anchoring the midfield with grit and popping up with crucial goals. He also looks the part as well. McTominay at Wimbledon looked like an Italian native.
It’s not just his stats; it’s his knack for stepping up when it counts. Nobody saw this coming, but McTominay’s hustle and heart have earned him a seat at the table. Top 10? Probably not. But his story is one for the romantics.
Notable Ballon d’Or Snubs:
Every year, the Ballon d’Or list sparks as much talk about who’s missing as who’s included. This time, names like Bruno Fernandes and Bukayo Saka are glaring absences.
Fernandes, Manchester United’s midfield engine, has been a consistent creator, yet his lack of major team silverware might’ve hurt him. Saka, Arsenal’s dazzling winger, delivered goals and assists aplenty, but perhaps the Gunners’ failure to clinch the Premier League left him just short. Other names like Kevin De Bruyne Julian Alvarez, Frenkie de Jong, Federico Valverde, and many more also missed the cut.
Some of the biggest names in football were left off this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist ❌⚽
— 365Scores (@365Scores) August 7, 2025
Which superstar do YOU think was unfairly snubbed from the top 30? pic.twitter.com/ID9Kq9ROlh
Kopa Trophy Breakdown
The Kopa Trophy, for the best player under 21, is a showcase of football’s future. Lamine Yamal leads the pack with his jaw-dropping season, but he’s got company. Desire Doué and Joao Neves from PSG, Pau Cubarsi from Barcelona, and Chelsea’s Estevao are among the 10 nominees. Ayyoub Bouaddi, Dean Huijsen, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Rodrigo Mora, and Kenan Yildiz round out the list. Yamal’s the favorite, but Doué’s versatility and Neves’s midfield mastery make this a tight race. Voted by past Ballon d’Or winners, this award always sparks debate about who’s next in line for global domination.
Yashin Trophy: The Goalkeepers’ Glory
The Yashin Trophy celebrates the game’s best shot-stoppers, and Gianluigi Donnarumma is the man to beat. His role in PSG’s treble makes him a shoo-in, but Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) and Alisson Becker (Liverpool) aren’t far behind. The list also includes Yassine Bounou, Lucas Chevalier, Thibaut Courtois, Jan Oblak, David Raya, Matz Sels, and Yann Sommer. Goalkeepers don’t get enough love, so this award is a chance to shine. Donnarumma’s clutch saves in big games give him the edge, but Martinez’s Copa América heroics keep it interesting.
Pichichi Trophy: The Goal-Scoring Race
While not part of the Ballon d’Or gala, the Pichichi Trophy, awarded to La Liga’s top scorer, is worth a nod. Robert Lewandowski, another Ballon d’Or nominee, is a contender here, battling it out with the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. Lewandowski’s knack for finding the net, even at 36, is unreal. The Pichichi race often influences Ballon d’Or voting, as goal-scoring prowess catches eyes.
When is the Ballon d’Or ceremony?
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. It’s football’s Oscars, complete with glitz, glamour, and a few nervous acceptance speeches. The event kicks off at 8 p.m. CET, and you can catch it live on the L’Equipe app or website. With 100 journalists voting on the men’s award, the outcome is anyone’s guess until the envelope’s opened. Will Dembélé take the crown, or will Yamal or Salah pull off an upset? The countdown is on.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or feels like a turning point. No Messi, no Ronaldo, just a new generation battling it out. From Yamal’s teenage brilliance to McTominay’s underdog story, the nominees tell a story of change. PSG’s dominance, with seven nominees, shows their rise as a football superpower. But Liverpool, Barcelona, and Real Madrid aren’t backing down.
The mix of veterans like Salah and Lewandowski with young stars like Doué and Yamal makes this race unpredictable. And honestly, that’s what makes it so fun. Who do you think deserves the golden ball? The beauty of football is that everyone’s got an opinion.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — two names that dominated the Ballon d’Or stage for years — are missing from the nominees list for the second consecutive year.
— 365Scores (@365Scores) August 7, 2025
Is this the official end of an era? Or just a pause before one last dance?” ⚽🔥 pic.twitter.com/nEmEPWmbPG
By Nicky Helfgott – NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter)
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