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The announcement of the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees has put football in that familiar holding pattern—half excitement, half nervous speculation—where fans, pundits, and players all start weighing careers against moments, and moments against statistics. On August 7, France Football named their 30-man shortlist, and it’s a line-up that could almost be mistaken for a Champions League dream team.
The Stage Is Set in Paris
On September 22, the Théâtre du Châtelet will once again host the sport’s most glamorous night. The Ballon d’Or is still the pinnacle in individual honours, but the gala now stretches far beyond the men’s prize. This year’s ceremony will also recognise the best in women’s football, emerging talents, goalkeepers, coaches, and clubs.
The night will be heavy on gold, velvet, and photo flashes, but the names on this year’s men’s list bring plenty of substance to the show.
Who Made the List
France Football, working with UEFA and Groupe Amaury, has cast the net wide. Paris Saint-Germain have stamped their authority on the shortlist with nine entries: Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, and Nuno Mendes.
Barcelona’s four nominees—Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski—are split between youthful promise and established firepower.
Real Madrid, as ever, have their heavy hitters: Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham.
From the Premier League, there’s Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Alexis Mac Allister representing Liverpool; Declan Rice for Arsenal; Cole Palmer for Chelsea; and Erling Haaland for Manchester City.
Others have fought their way onto the list from less spotlight-heavy corners—Scott McTominay, who has reinvented himself at Napoli, Lautaro Martínez and Denzel Dumfries at Inter, Viktor Gyökeres (splitting time between Sporting and Arsenal), Florian Wirtz, Harry Kane, Serhou Guirassy, and more.
Stories That Will Shape the Vote
Dembélé’s moment. After years of brilliance flickering in and out, this could be the season it all came together. A Champions League win with PSG has pushed him to the top of most unofficial power rankings.
Yamal and the youth question. At just 18, the Barcelona forward could rewrite history by becoming the youngest ever winner, surpassing Ronaldo’s record that has stood for nearly two decades.
McTominay’s reinvention. Once written off as a utility player at Manchester United, the Scot has turned Napoli into his stage, scoring 12 goals in Serie A and earning MVP whispers.
Who’s missing. Last year’s winner Rodri doesn’t make the cut after an injury-hit season. His absence is a reminder that the Ballon d’Or can shift quickly, even for champions.
The public mood. Fan forums are already dissecting the list. Some nominations—like Dumfries—have surprised. McTominay, meanwhile, has gathered a rare thing: near-unanimous goodwill from neutrals.
The Road to September
| Stage | What Happens |
| Now | The debate plays out in the press, on podcasts, and in living rooms—names like Dembélé, Yamal, Salah, and Haaland dominate the conversation. |
| Voting | Journalists from across the football world submit their rankings. |
| Final Reveal | The winner is crowned in Paris on September 22. |
The race feels more open than it has in years. There’s no single untouchable favourite, only strong cases built on different strengths consistency, moments of brilliance, team triumphs, or sheer narrative pull. The beauty of the Ballon d’Or is that it’s never just about the numbers, and this year’s list might prove that more than ever.