The football world’s holding its breath as the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or race lights up Paris like a firecracker. On September 22, at the glitzy Théâtre du Châtelet, one of 30 nominees will clutch the Golden Ball, cementing their name among legends. This year’s shortlist, announced August 7 by France Football, is a wild mix of veterans, young guns, and surprise heroes, with Paris Saint-Germain’s treble-winners and Barcelona’s La Liga champs leading the charge.
No Lionel Messi, no Cristiano Ronaldo, no 2024 winner Rodri—just a fresh battle for the crown. From Ousmane Dembélé’s dazzling coronation to Lamine Yamal’s teenage heroics and Cole Palmer’s ice-cold Chelsea magic, let’s unpack the nominees, the favorites, and why this Ballon d’Or feels like football’s new dawn.
The Nominees: A Star-Studded 30
The Men’s Ballon d’Or, awarded for the 2024–25 season (August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025), honors the world’s best based on individual brilliance, team success, and fair play. Voted by journalists from FIFA’s top 100 nations, the 30 nominees reflect a season of seismic shifts. Here’s the full list, a who’s-who of football’s elite:
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
- Ousmane Dembélé (PSG, France)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG, Italy)
- Désiré Doué (PSG, France)
- Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan, Netherlands)
- Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund, Guinea)
- Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal, Sweden)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
- Achraf Hakimi (PSG, Morocco)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG, Georgia)
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, Argentina)
- Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
- Scott McTominay (Napoli, Scotland)
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France)
- Nuno Mendes (PSG, Portugal)
- João Neves (PSG, Portugal)
- Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)
- Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)
- Raphinha (Barcelona, Brazil)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal, England)
- Fabián Ruiz (PSG, Spain)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)
- Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
- Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid, Brazil)
- Vitinha (PSG, Portugal)
- Florian Wirtz (Liverpool, Germany)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
Source: France Football, L’Équipe, UEFA.com
PSG dominate with nine nominees, matching Real Madrid’s 2018 record, thanks to their Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France treble. Barcelona boast four, while Liverpool, Arsenal, and Real Madrid each have three. Premier League stars like Palmer, Salah, and Rice shine, but shock absences—Bruno Fernandes, Bukayo Saka, Trent Alexander-Arnold—sparked debates.
The Favorites: Dembélé, Yamal, and Palmer’s Charge
This year’s race is a thriller, with no clear frontrunner. Ousmane Dembélé, PSG’s wing wizard, leads the pack after a 32-goal, 13-assist season, torching Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final. “He just needs a coronation,” Guillem Balagué raved, and Dembélé’s Club World Cup final display against Chelsea only fueled the hype.
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s 18-year-old sensation, is the wild card. The 2024 Kopa Trophy winner dazzled with a brace in Spain’s 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France, helping Barça to a La Liga-Copa del Rey double. Yamal could be the first teenager to win, though his lack of a Champions League medal might hurt.
Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s cold-blooded star, is the Premier League’s dark horse. His Club World Cup final goal in Chelsea’s 3-0 rout of PSG, plus UEFA Conference League glory, earned him a Golden Ball nod.
Others in the mix include Mohamed Salah, who led Liverpool to Premier League glory with 20 goals, though his Champions League exit to PSG dims his chances.
Raphinha’s 15 La Liga goals under Hansi Flick keep Barcelona in the conversation, while Achraf Hakimi’s relentless runs for PSG’s treble make him a sleeper pick. Kylian Mbappé, despite La Liga’s top scorer title, faded after Real Madrid’s trophyless season and a Club World Cup loss.
The Context: A New Era Dawns
The 2025 Ballon d’Or, the 69th edition, marks a seismic shift. For the second year running, neither Messi (eight wins) nor Ronaldo (five) made the shortlist, a first since 2003.
Rodri, 2024’s winner, is out with an ACL injury, ensuring a new champion. “The Messi-Ronaldo duopoly is dead,” GiveMeSport declared, with Rodri’s win signaling a merit-driven era.
The award, co-organized by UEFA and France Football, spans club and international performances, including the Club World Cup, Nations League, and domestic leagues. PSG’s treble—Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France—gives their nine nominees, like Dembélé, Hakimi, and Vitinha, an edge.
Barcelona’s domestic double and Arsenal’s Champions League triumph keep Yamal, Raphinha, and Rice in contention, while Chelsea’s global crown boosts Palmer.
Voting, by 100 journalists, awards 15 points for first place, 12 for second, down to 1 for tenth. Ties are broken by first-place votes, with France Football’s editor-in-chief as the final arbiter.
Other Awards: Young Guns and Keepers Shine
The Ballon d’Or gala isn’t just about the main prize. New categories for 2025 include:
- Kopa Trophy (Best U-21 Player): Lamine Yamal and Désiré Doué lead, with Pau Cubarsí, Estevao, and Dean Huijsen also nominated. Yamal’s Nations League heroics make him the favorite.
- Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG’s treble-winner, is tipped to match Emiliano Martínez’s two wins, with Alisson Becker, David Raya, and Thibaut Courtois in the race.
- Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Scorer): No shortlist; awarded for most goals. Harry Kane (36 Bundesliga goals) and Erling Haaland (25 Premier League goals) are frontrunners.
- Johan Cruyff Trophy (Best Coach): Luis Enrique (PSG’s treble), Hansi Flick (Barcelona’s double), and Enzo Maresca (Chelsea’s Club World Cup) headline, with Arne Slot and Antonio Conte also nominated.
- Men’s Club of the Year: PSG, Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool, Botafogo. PSG’s treble makes them favorites.
This Ballon d’Or isn’t just an award—it’s a snapshot of football’s evolution. With Messi and Ronaldo absent, the focus shifts to a new generation: Yamal’s fearless dribbles, Dembélé’s redemption arc, Palmer’s icy veins.
PSG’s nine nominees reflect their European dominance, but Premier League stars like Palmer, Salah, and Rice prove England’s depth. The lack of major international tournaments—only the Nations League and Club World Cup—put club form under the microscope, making every goal, assist, and trophy a vote-swaying moment.
The Ceremony: Paris Awaits
On September 22, the Théâtre du Châtelet will glitter with football’s elite. Will Dembélé, once Barcelona’s injury-prone enigma, complete his redemption? Can Yamal, barely old enough to vote, make history? Or will Palmer, Chelsea’s boy wonder, steal the show? The gala, broadcast globally, will cap a season where PSG conquered Europe, Barcelona ruled Spain, and Chelsea stunned the world. Whoever wins, this Ballon d’Or will mark a new chapter—one where young blood and bold dreams reign supreme.
Wrap-Up
The 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or is a heart-pounding race. Ousmane Dembélé’s 32 goals, Lamine Yamal’s teenage magic, and Cole Palmer’s Club World Cup heroics lead a 30-man shortlist bursting with talent. With no Messi, Ronaldo, or Rodri, a new king will rise on September 22 in Paris. From PSG’s treble to Barcelona’s double and Chelsea’s global crown, the 2024–25 season redefined football’s pecking order.
