The nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or have been revealed, with football’s best players contending for a number of top prizes.
Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue have led Paris Saint-Germain’s charge, and both French superstars will contend for the top men’s prize, succeeding Rodri after his stunning win over Vinicius Jr last year. A long injury absence has meant the holder is absent from this year’s list, whereas Bruno Fernandes, Bukayo Saka and Trent Alexander-Arnold have also missed out.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Mohamed Salah, who inspired Liverpool to Premier League glory, are also on the 30-man longlist. Joining them are Scott McTominay, who guided Napoli to the Scudetto and Kylian Mbappe, despite a tough start as he shone for Real Madrid in his debut season at the Bernabeu.
Aitana Bonmati is still the favourite to win the women’s award for the third straight year, despite losing out with Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final to Arsenal and then with Spain in the Women’s Euro 2025 final to England. Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton and Spain teammate Mariona Caldentey are also nominated.
Join The Independent’s live coverage of the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominations below:
Ballon d'Or nominees revealed - live
- Ballon d’Or nominees being released today
- Spain and Man City star Rodri upset Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr to win the top men's prize last year
- Aitana Bonmati is pushing to win the Ballon d'Or Féminin for the third straight year
- Ballon d’Or ceremony to take place on 22 September in Paris
- How does the Ballon d'Or voting work?
Previous Ballon d'Or winners
16:32 , Chris WilsonMen’s award:
- 2024: Rodri
- 2023: Lionel Messi
- 2022: Karim Benzema
- 2021: Lionel Messi
- 2019: Lionel Messi
Women’s award:
- 2024: Aitana Bonmati
- 2023: Aitana Bonmati
- 2022: Alexia Putellas
- 2021: Alexia Putellas
- 2019: Megan Rapinoe
Ballon d'Or Feminin nominees in full
16:20 , Chris WilsonAnd here’s the full list of nominees for the women’s award:
Leah Williamson (Arsenal)
Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
Chloe Kelly (Arsenal)
Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
Emily Fox (Arsenal)
Frida Maanum (Arsenal)
Steph Catley (Arsenal)
Lucy Bronze (Chelsea)
Hannah Hampton (Chelsea)
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea)
Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
Claudia Pina (Barcelona)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
Patri Guijarro (Barcelona)
Ewa Pajor (Barcelona)
Caroline Weir (Real Madrid)
Klara Buhl (Bayern)
Pernille Harder (Bayern)
Melchie Dumornay (Lyon)
Lindsey Horan (Lyon)
Clara Mateo (Paris FC)
Sofia Cantore (Juventus)
Cristiana Girelli (Juventus)
Barbra Banda (Orlando)
Marta (Orlando)
Esther Gonzalez (Gotham FC)
Temwa Chawinga (KC Current)
Amanda Gutierres (Palmeiras)
Ballon d'Or nominees in full
16:10 , Chris WilsonHere’s the full list of nominees for the men’s award:
Ousmane Dembele (PSG)
Vitinha (PSG)
Fabian Ruiz (PSG)
Nuno Mendes (PSG)
Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
Desire Doue (PSG)
Joao Neves (PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Raphinha (Barcelona)
Pedri (Barcelona)
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Scott McTominay (Napoli)
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Vini Jr (Real Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP/Arsenal)
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
How does the Ballon d'Or voting work?
16:00 , Lawrence OstlereA reminder of how this all comes together, as the committee, consisting of journalists from France Football and L’Equipe, select 30 names.
When the two lists have been confirmed, one football journalist from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations will submit their votes for the top 10 players.
The top 10 consists of a points system, which will be accumulated to crown the winner:
- First Place: 15 points
- Second Place: 12 points
- Third place: 10 points
- Fourth place: 8 points
- Fifth place: 7 points
- Sixth place: 5 points
- Seventh place: 4 points
- Eighth place: 3 points
- Ninth place: 2 points
- Tenth place: 1 point
Ballon d'Or Feminin
15:50 , Chris WilsonThe women’s version of the Ballon d’or was first awarded in 2018, with Lyon’s Ada Hegerberg winning the inaugural award.
USA World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe won the award in 2019, and since then it has been dominated by Spanish players, with Alexia Putellas winning twice before Aitana Bonmati took over as the best women’s player in the world.
Bonmati is bidding to make it three straight wins in 2025, though Spain and Barca teammate Putellas played her way into consideration and England’s Champions League and Euros winner Alessia Russo will also be in the running.
Premier League stars nominated for Ballon d'Or
15:40 , Chris WilsonThere are eight players who currently play in the Premier League up for the Ballon d'Or this year, with Mo Salah the main contender.
Liverpool - Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister
Arsenal - Declan Rice, Viktor Gyokeres
Chelsea - Cole Palmer
Manchester City - Erling Haaland
Who are the top contenders?
15:30 , Chris WilsonThe ex-Leeds man would not have been high on many people’s list of Ballon d’Or contenders last August, but Raphinha has stamped his mark as one of the world’s best this term.
After kicking off the campaign in electrifying fashion, the Brazilian has racked up eye-watering goal record with 34 goals and 25 assists in all competitions as Barca stormed to a LaLiga and Copa del Rey double.
Barcelona’s gut-wrenching failure in the Champions League did not come without the efforts of Raphinha - the competition’s joint-top scorer with 13. He netted three across their enthralling semi-final tie with Inter Milan, which ended 7-6 on aggregate in favour of the Nerazzuri.
A player who initially failed to impress in Catalonia following his 2022 move is now one of the first names on the team-sheet. But just like with Yamal, missing out on Europe’s top prize could prove his downfall in the pursuit of Ballon d’Or glory.
Who are the top contenders?
15:20 , Chris WilsonMohamed Salah
Liverpool talisman Salah has put together one of the all-time great individual Premier League seasons as the rocket fuel behind Arne Slot’s debut season title win.
With 29 goals and 18 assists in the league, he matched the all-time record for goal involvements in a single campaign, with 47. This isa record now jointly shared with Alan Shearer and Andy Cole , both of whom set their records in 42-match seasons.
While the Reds fell to PSG in their push for a seventh Champions League title, Salah’s individual exploits this season have been nevertheless remarkable, propelling Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight crown.
Arguably the best campaign of a player who has netted 20-plus goals in eight consecutive seasons at Anfield, there is a strong argument that recognition under the Ballon d’Or banner is long overdue.
Who are the top contenders?
15:10 , Chris WilsonVitinha
Former Wolves midfielder Vitinha has been another surprise to emerge from Luis Enrique’s new-look PSG side, with the Portugal man proving a vital cog in the Parisian midfield alongside Fabian Ruiz and compatriot Joao Neves.
A tally of eight goals and five assists in all competitions is not as impressing as other key members of the squad, but it was in possession where Vitinha really excelled, with his efforts enabling much of the scintillating attacking play that took place ahead of him.
As well as a treble that included PSG’s first ever European Cup, Vitinha was key in Portugal’s victory in the Nations League, meaning that he has moved into he top five favourites for the Ballon d’Or ahead of the new season.
Who are the top contenders?
15:00 , Chris WilsonLamine Yamal
Barcelona’s latest teenage sensation looks almost certain to pick up a Ballon d’Or in years to come, if not a fair few. But don’t count him out of the running this season either.
The 17-year-old Spaniard was integral to Barcelona’s domestic success this season, boasting 18 goals and 25 assists in all competitions. A player who rises to the occasion when it most matters, he inspired the Blaugrana’s sublime 4-3 comeback win in May’s crucial El Clasico – ending Real Madrid’s hopes of a late-season LaLiga comeback story – and was also impressive in the Copa Del Rey final victory over Los Blancos.
He is already getting worthy comparisons to Lionel Messi, but could well win his first Ballon d’Or four years earlier than his idol managed.
When will the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner be announced?
14:55 , Chris WilsonThe winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or will be announced on 22 September 2025 during a ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
Who are the top contenders?
14:50 , Chris WilsonOusmane Dembele
Dembele spent seven years haunted by the £135.5m price tag Barcelona paid for him back in 2017, having never set the Camp Nou alive during his spell in Catalonia. But back in his homeland, the Frenchman is finally proving his worth.
The prolific forward was the leading light in PSG’s electric attack last season, notching a staggering 35 goals and 16 assists for Luis Enrique’s redefined side.
As well as propelling the Parisians to a comfortable Ligue 1 title - the minimum requirement for a PSG season - his goals have come good in the Champions League, taking PSG to the club’s holy grail in a maiden European Cup win.
We know how important winning Europe’s premier competition can be in deciding the recipient of the Ballon d’Or, and a series of influential performances in the competition makes the 27-year-old the early favourite.
Ballon d'Or Feminin nominees
14:43 , Chris WilsonHere’s the full list of nominees for the women’s award too:
Here are our 2025 Women's Ballon d'Or nominees!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/zruGXPSfMZ
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) August 7, 2025
Ballon d'Or nominees
14:38 , Chris WilsonHere is the full list of the nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or!
Here are the 2025 Ballon d'Or nominees!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/tehmbU4R0j
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) August 7, 2025
Who was snubbed for final Ballon d'Or cut?
14:37 , Jack RathbornThere is no Bruno Fernandes in the final cut for the men’s award.
The Manchester United midfielder had a fine season, despite the Red Devils struggling.
Predictably, there is no Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, either.
While Alexander Isak did not do enough to make the cut.
Ballon d'Or nominees
14:30 , Chris WilsonThe final five nominees begins with Vini Jr, who is followed by new Liverpool signing Florian Wirtz.
His teammate Mo Salah will be among the favourites, while third and second favourites Vitinha and Lamine Yamal complete the nominees.
Ballon d'Or nominees
14:27 , Chris WilsonCole Palmer is another headline from a British point of view, with the England international having led his side to the Club World Cup win.
Raphinha earns a nomination after an impressive season for Barca, while Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk complete another Premier Leaguer duo.
Fabian Ruiz is yet another PSG nominee.
Ballon d'Or nominees
14:25 , Chris WilsonKylian Mbappe gets a nomination after winning the European Golden Boot, while PSG duo Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves are obviously included too.
Barcelona’s Pedri is next on the list, with Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise also earning his first nomination.
Ballon d'Or nominees
14:24 , Chris WilsonAnother PSG player in with a chance of the award is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with the Georgian now joined by Robert Lewandowski, Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martinez.
And we have a new nominee as Scott McTominay is given a nomination!
The Scot was key in Napoli’s title win last season.
Ballon d'Or nominees
14:20 , Chris WilsonSerhou Guirassy is next on the list, followed by Man City striker Erling Haaland and new Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres.
Harry Kane is next on the list, winning his seventh nomination, and he’s followed by PSG’S Achraf Hakimi.
Ballon d'Or nominees
14:19 , Chris WilsonFavourite Ousmane Dembele is the first nominee, alongside PSG teammates Gianluigi Donnarumma and Desire Doue. The trio won a treble last season, including the club’s first European Cup.
Jude Bellingham and Denzel Dumfries join them.
Ballon d'Or nominees
14:16 , Chris WilsonThe nominees for the men’s award are following immediately!
Ballon d'Or Feminin nominees
14:14 , Chris WilsonAlexia Putellas
Claudia Pina
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd
Caroline Weir
Leah Williamson
Ballon d'Or Feminin nominees
14:12 , Chris WilsonMarta
Frida Maanum
Ewa Pajor
Clara Mateo
Alessia Russo
Ballon d'Or Feminin nominees
14:09 , Chris WilsonAmanda Gutierres
Hannah Hampton
Pernille Harder
Lindsey Heaps
Chloe Kelly
Ballon d'Or Feminin nominees
14:08 , Chris WilsonEmily Fox
Cristiana Girelli
Esther Gonzalez
Caroline Graham Hansen
Patri Guijarro
Ballon d'Or Feminin nominees
14:06 , Chris WilsonThe next five are:
Klara Buhl
Sofia Cantore
Steph Catley
Melchie Dumornay
Temwa Chawinga
Ballon d'Or Feminin nominees
14:05 , Chris WilsonThe first nominees are coming in. Here are the first five:
Lucy Bronze
Aitana Bonmati
Barbra Banda
Sandy Baltimore
Mariona Caldentey
Ballon d'Or Feminin nominees
13:46 , Chris WilsonThey had us fooled!
An update on the Ballon d’Or X page says we’ve got 15 minutes to go before we find out the next nominations.
Ballon d'Or Feminin nominees
13:38 , Chris WilsonWe’re moments away (I think...)!
Coming up... the Ballon d'Or nominees! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/B8tIz3JPDz
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) August 7, 2025
Ballon d'Or nominees
13:31 , Chris WilsonWe’re expecting the nominations for the women’s award to start being released any moment now!
Men's Club of the Year
13:24 , Chris WilsonChampions League winners PSG will likely be the favourites for this one, especially considering they won a treble and got to the final of the Club World Cup.
Chelsea have earned a nomination through their victory in the latter competition, while Botafogo are included after winning the Copa Libertadores and FC Barcelona get the nomination after winning a domestic double.
Liverpool complete the list after their impressive Premier League win in Arne Slot’s first season in charge.
Women's Club of the Year
13:13 , Chris WilsonArsenal are the first club nominated for this one, and they’ll be i the favourites after winning a second UWCL title last season with a 1-0 win over a much-fancied Barcelona side.
Chelsea are the other WSL side nominated, with the domestic treble sticking out as the Blues dominated English football.
UWCL finalists Barcelona are bidding to win the prize for the third time in a row, while French side Lyon and US club Orlando Pride round up the nominees.
Men's Team Coach of the Year
12:57 , Chris WilsonSerie A winner Antonio Conte is the first nomination for the Cruyff Trophy, with the Italian having won the league with Napoli last season.
Luis Enrique is next on the list, with the Spaniard surely the favourite after winning the treble and a maiden European Cup for PSG.
Former Barca manager Enrique is joined by current Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, who led his club to a domestic double in 2024/25.
Club World Cup winner Enzo Maresca is next to be nominated, with Liverpool boss Arne Slot one of the more obvious nominees after a superb first season in which he won the Premier League title.
Women's Team Coach of the Year nominees
12:42 , Chris WilsonSarina Wiegman leads the nominees for the Women’s Team Coach of the Year.
Sonia Bompastor and Renee Slegers are the main WSL nominees, with the two newcomers having won the WSL and UWCL between them.
Brazil coach Arthur Elias and Nigeria’s Justine Madugu make up the nominations list.
Men's Yashin Trophy nominees
12:28 , Chris WilsonAnd now we move to the men’s award for best goalkeeper.
Alisson is the first name out, and he is joined by David Raya and surprise addition Matz Sels as the Premier League nominees.
Yassine Bounou is up next alongside Lille ‘keeper Lucas Chevalier, who is supposedly on the verge of signing for PSG.
And current PSG goalie Gianluigi Donnarumma is next out, with the Italian surely the favourite for this one.
Inter’s Yann Sommer is another potential candidate, while Thibaut Courtois is an obvious nominee and Emi Martinez has somehow snuck his way in again alongside Jan Oblak.
Women's Yashin Trophy nominees
12:17 , Chris WilsonThe nominees for the Women’s Yashin Trophy (for best goalkeeper) are emerging now.
Euro 2025 winner Hannah Hampton headlines the list after her impressive performances in Switzerland and for Chelsea.
Spain ‘keeper Cata Coll is also nominated alongside Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger, while Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie and Arsenal ‘keeper Daphne van Domselaar complete the nominations.
Kopa Trophy nominees
12:04 , Chris WilsonHere are the Kopa Trophy nominees in full then:
Here are our 2025 Kopa Trophy nominees! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/N9SqGPrhmH
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) August 7, 2025
Men's Kopa Trophy nominees
11:55 , Chris WilsonNow we get to the nominees for the men’s version of the Kopa Trophy.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is the most interesting name from a Premier League perspective, with the Arsenal defender rewarded for an impressive breakout season.
New Real Madrid signing Dean Huijsen is joined by fellow defender Pau Cubarsi of Barcelona, and unsurprisingly he is joined by Barca teammate (and surely the winner) Lamine Yamal.
PSG duo Desire Doue and Joao Neves are two players who may also appear in the nominations for the main award, and the former will likely be the main competitor to Yamal.
Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi is a surprise inclusion, as is Porto’s Rodrigo Mora, while incoming Chelsea winger Estevao and Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz complete the list.
Women’s Kopa Trophy nominees
11:44 , Chris WilsonReal Madrid’s Linda Caicedo is the next nominee, with Chelsea midfielder Wieke Kaptein also nominated.
They are joined by Paraguay’s Claudia Martinez Ovando and impressive Spain winger Vicky Lopez.
Ballon d'Or nominees announced
11:33 , Chris WilsonHere we go! The nominees for the women’s Kopa Trophy are being announced.
Michelle Agyemang is the headline name from an English perspective, with the 19-year-old having won the Young Player of the Tournament at Euro 2025.
Nominees announcement imminent
11:25 , Chris WilsonThe announcement for the 2025 Ballon d’or nominees is imminent! Five minutes to wait now.
Who won last year’s awards?
11:20 , Chris WilsonMen's Ballon d'Or: Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
Women's Ballon d'Or: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona)
Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martínez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
Men's Coach of the Year: Carlo Ancelotti (Italy, Real Madrid)
Women's Coach of the Year: Emma Hayes (England, Chelsea / USA national team)
Men's Club of the Year: Real Madrid (Spain)
Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona (Spain)
Nominees coming soon
11:15 , Chris WilsonThe nominees will be announced from 11.30am BST, so we’re around 15 minutes away.
British Ballon d'Or winners
11:07 , Chris WilsonScott McTominay and Cole Palmer will likely be the most recent British nominees for the award, with both bidding to become the first UK winner since Michael Owen in 2001.
Only six British players have won the award. Stanley Matthews won the inaugural award in 1956, with Denis Law winning in 1964 and Sir Bobby Charlton following after England’s World Cup win in 1996. George Best followed that in 1968 after Man Utd won the European Cup, before Kevin Keegan became the only Briton to win the award twice with wins in 1978 and 1979.
The highest recent finish by an Englishman is Jude Bellingham, who came third last year.
Ballon d'Or favourites
10:54 , Chris WilsonOusmane Dembele, Lamine Yamal, Vitinha and Mo Salah are the favourites for the men's award.
Alessia Russo, two-time winner Alexia Putellas and current holder Aitana Bonmati are among the favourites for the women’s award.
Ballon d’Or history
10:38 , Chris WilsonThe Ballon d’Or was conceived by sports writers Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran as an award to present the best player in Europe.
Until 2006, it was based exclusively on voting from journalists, and until 1995 it was only open to players from Europe, hence the absence of notable would-be winners including Pele and Diego Maradona.
The award was first given in 1956, with Blackpool’s Stanley Matthews the inaugural winner ahead of Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano.
Ballon d'Or records
10:14 , Chris WilsonLionel Messi currently holds the record for the most Ballons d’Or, having won eight between 2009 and 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo is second, having won five between 2007 and 2017.
Players to have won the award more than once include Johan Cruyff (three), Marco van Basten (three), Michel Platini (three), Ronaldo (two), Franz Beckenbauer (two) and Kevin Keegan (two).
Ballon d'Or Odds
09:54 , Chris WilsonOusmane Dembele - 1/4
Lamine Yamal - 5/1
Vitinha - 12/1
Raphinha - 20/1
Fabian Ruiz - 25/1
Ballon d’Or 2025 Betting Odds: Dembele’s Odds Slashed For Prestigious Award
When is the Ballon d’Or ceremony?
09:39 , Jack RathbornThe Ballon d’Or nominees will be announced today, with the ceremony in a month’s time on 22 September.
The glitzy gala will take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, with Uefa linking up with Groupe Amaury and L’Équipe to put on the prestigious annual awards.
How does the Ballon d'Or voting work?
09:32 , Jack RathbornThe committee, consisting of journalists from France Football and L’Equipe, select 30 names.
When the two lists have been confirmed, one football journalist from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations will submit their votes for the top 10 players.
The top 10 consists of a points system, which will be accumulated to crown the winner:
- First Place: 15 points
- Second Place: 12 points
- Third place: 10 points
- Fourth place: 8 points
- Fifth place: 7 points
- Sixth place: 5 points
- Seventh place: 4 points
- Eighth place: 3 points
- Ninth place: 2 points
- Tenth place: 1 point
