Women’s Ballon d’Or 2025 Nominees (30 Players)
The Women’s Ballon d’Or, awarded since 2018, honors the best female footballer of the 2024–25 season (August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025). This year’s shortlist, dominated by stars from England’s Euro 2025-winning squad and Spain’s world champions, showcases veterans and rising talents. Here’s the full list:
- Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England): The 33-year-old right-back, a Euro 2025 hero, played through a fractured tibia in the final, scoring a crucial penalty in England’s 3-1 shootout win over Spain.
- Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia): A goal-scoring machine, her 16 NWSL goals in 2024 helped Orlando shine, though Zambia’s international run was limited.
- Aitana Bonmatí (FC Barcelona, Spain): The two-time defending Ballon d’Or winner (2023, 2024), Bonmatí’s extra-time screamer in the Euro 2025 semi-final and 30 goals in 78 caps make her a favorite.
- Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea, France): A dynamic winger, her flair in the WSL and France’s Euro 2025 campaign earned her a nod.
- Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal, Spain): Scored Spain’s opener in the Euro 2025 final, her 12 WSL goals tying for the league’s top scorer.
- Klara Bühl (Bayern Munich, Germany): A versatile attacker, her goals in the Frauen-Bundesliga and Germany’s Euro run stood out.
- Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit, Italy): Her breakout NWSL season and Italy’s semi-final run, including a brace against Norway, turned heads.
- Steph Catley (Arsenal, Australia): The Matildas captain and Arsenal’s defensive rock, key in their Women’s Champions League triumph.
- Melchie Daëlle Dumornay (OL Lyonnais, Haiti): The Haitian star’s midfield dominance for Lyon in Division 1 Féminine was electrifying.
- Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current, Malawi): A scoring sensation, her 18 NWSL goals in 2024 set records, though Malawi’s international absence limited her.
- Emily Fox (Arsenal, USA): A Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist, her defensive solidity helped Arsenal’s European success.
- Cristiana Girelli (Juventus, Italy): The 35-year-old’s late header against Norway in the Euro quarters fueled Italy’s fairytale run.
- Esther González (Gotham FC, Spain): The Euro 2025 Golden Boot winner with four goals, her move to the NWSL kept her lethal.
- Caroline Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona, Norway): Her flair in Norway’s 4-3 Iceland thriller and Barcelona’s Liga F dominance earned praise.
- Patri Guijarro (FC Barcelona, Spain): A midfield metronome, key in Spain’s Euro 2025 campaign despite their final loss.
- Amanda Gutierres (Palmeiras, Brazil): A rising star, her goals in Brazil’s Série A1 and Copa América run shone.
- Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England): The Euro 2025 Golden Glove winner, her two penalty saves in the final sealed England’s title.
- Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich, Denmark): A veteran playmaker, her leadership in the Frauen-Bundesliga kept Bayern competitive.
- Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnais, USA): A Paris 2024 Olympic standout, her versatility for Lyon was crucial.
- Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, England): Her winning penalty in the Euro 2025 final and WSL form (12 goals) cemented her clutch reputation.
- Marta (Orlando Pride, Brazil): The 39-year-old legend, with 118 international goals, still dazzled in the NWSL.
- Frida Maanum (Arsenal, Norway): Her brace in Norway’s Euro 2025 Iceland win and Arsenal’s European glory earned her a spot.
- Ewa Pajor (FC Barcelona, Poland): A lethal striker, her goals for Barça in Liga F kept her in the conversation.
- Clara Mateo (Paris FC, France): A breakout star, her goals in Division 1 Féminine and France’s Euro run impressed.
- Claudia Pina (FC Barcelona, Spain): Her Euro 2025 goals, including one against Switzerland, bolstered Spain’s attack.
- Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona, Spain): The two-time Ballon d’Or winner (2021, 2022), her midfield mastery nearly led Spain to Euro glory.
- Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea, Sweden): Her pace in the WSL and Sweden’s 4-1 Germany upset earned her a nod.
- Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England): Her header in the Euro 2025 final and joint-top WSL scoring (12 goals) made her a contender.
- Caroline Weir (Real Madrid, Scotland): Despite Scotland’s Euro absence, her La Liga creativity shone.
- Leah Williamson (Arsenal, England): England’s Euro 2025-winning captain, her leadership and Champions League form were pivotal.
Source: France Football, L’Équipe, UEFA.com
Other Women’s Award Nominees
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, set for September 22 at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet, introduced new women’s categories, reflecting the sport’s growth. Here are the nominees for key awards:
- Women’s Kopa Trophy (Best Under-21 Player):
- Michelle Agyemang (Arsenal, England): The Euro 2025 Young Player of the Tournament, her goals against Sweden and Italy were clutch.
- Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid, Colombia): A dazzling winger, her Copa América flair shone.
- Wieke Kaptein (Chelsea, Netherlands): A midfield prodigy despite the Netherlands’ Euro exit.
- Claudia Martinez Ovando (Club Olimpia, Paraguay): A rising star in South America.
- Vicky López (FC Barcelona, Spain): Her Liga F impact at 18 marked her as a future star.
- Women’s Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper):
- Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England): Her Euro 2025 penalty saves earned her the Golden Glove.
- Other nominees not fully listed but include top keepers from Europe and beyond, per UEFA’s announcement.
- Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Goalscorer):
- No shortlist; awarded to the player with the most goals for club and country. Esther González (four Euro 2025 goals) and Temwa Chawinga (18 NWSL goals) are frontrunners.
- Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (Best Coach):
- Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea): Led Chelsea to WSL and Champions League contention.
- Arthur Elias (Brazil): Guided Brazil’s Copa América run.
- Justine Madugu (Nigeria): Elevated Nigeria’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
- Renée Slegers (Arsenal): Drove Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League success.
- Sarina Wiegman (England): Masterminded England’s back-to-back Euro titles.
- Women’s Club of the Year:
- Arsenal (England): Women’s Champions League winners.
- FC Barcelona (Spain): Liga F champions.
- Chelsea (England): WSL contenders with Euro 2025 stars.
- OL Lyonnais (France): Division 1 Féminine powerhouses.
- Orlando Pride (USA): NWSL leaders with Banda and Marta.
Source: France Football, L’Équipe, UEFA.com, Arsenal.com
Favorites and Context
The Women’s Ballon d’Or race is tight. Aitana Bonmatí, bidding for a third straight win, leads with her Euro 2025 semi-final heroics and Barcelona’s dominance, but England’s Euro 2025 winners—Lucy Bronze, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Leah Williamson, and Hannah Hampton—are strong contenders. Spain’s loss in the Euro final might dent Bonmatí and Putellas’ chances, while Bronze’s grit and Kelly’s clutch penalty could sway voters.
The award, voted on by journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations, uses a points system (15 for first, 12 for second, down to 1 for tenth).
Criteria include individual performance, team achievements, and fair play. With no major international tournaments outside Euro 2025 and Copa América, club form—like Arsenal’s Champions League win and Barcelona’s Liga F title—looms large.
This shortlist, with five Lionesses and global stars like Marta and Barbra Banda, shows women’s football’s depth. New categories like the Women’s Kopa and Yashin Trophies, introduced in 2025, elevate young talents and goalkeepers.
The ceremony, co-organized by UEFA and France Football, will be a glitzy celebration of a season where England’s Euro triumph and Barcelona’s domestic dominance set the tone. As Lucy Bronze told The Guardian, “This is our time to shine,” and with Basel’s Euro 2025 final still fresh, the Lionesses’ nominees could steal the show.
