Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is the frontrunner to clinch the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or, with Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal seen as his closest rival. In the women’s category, Spain and Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati is tipped to secure a historic third consecutive win.
The Ballon d’Or is football’s most prestigious individual prize, awarded annually since 1956 by France Football. It celebrates the best performances across a full season and is often described as the “Oscars of football.”
The 2025 Ballon d’Or gala will take place on Monday at 19:00 GMT at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France.
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2025 Contenders
Dembele, 28, is tipped as the top favourite following a stunning campaign in which he scored 35 goals for PSG, helping them achieve a domestic treble and win the Champions League. His ability to step up after Kylian Mbappe’s departure turned him into the team’s star performer.
Lamine Yamal, only 18, is also strongly in contention. He dazzled for Barcelona with 18 goals in 55 appearances, guiding the club to a La Liga and Copa del Rey double. He also shone at Euro 2024, where Spain lifted the trophy.
Other strong nominees include:
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
- Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
- Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Nine PSG players are on the 30-man shortlist, reflecting their dominance in Europe last season.
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2025 Contenders
Bonmati, 27, remains the favourite despite Barcelona’s Champions League final defeat to Arsenal and Spain’s Euro 2024 final loss to England on penalties. Her consistency and playmaking brilliance set her apart.
Her teammate Alexia Putellas, a two-time winner, is also nominated. From England’s victorious Euro squad, Alessia Russo, Lucy Bronze, Chloe Kelly, Leah Williamson, and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton make the list.
How Voting Works
The Ballon d’Or is decided by 100 journalists representing the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries. Each journalist selects their top 10 players, with points ranging from 15 (first place) to one (tenth place).
Alongside the men’s and women’s prizes, several other categories will be awarded:
- Kopa Trophy: Best young player (men and women)
- Yashin Trophy: Best goalkeeper (men and women)
- Gerd Muller Trophy: Top scorer (men and women)
- Johan Cruyff Trophy: Best coach (men and women)
- Club of the Year (men and women)
- Socrates Award: Humanitarian impact
Lionel Messi holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or wins, the last in 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo has five, with his most recent in 2017. Between them, they dominated the award for more than a decade.
This year, however, a new era looks set to be crowned with either Dembele or Yamal emerging as the face of world football.
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