Ousmane Dembélé, Mohamed Salah, and Lamine Yamal lead the race for Ballon d'Or 2025, as Paris prepares to host the ceremony on September 22.
Ahead of the September 22 award presentation at Paris's Théâtre du Châtelet, the Ballon d'Or 2025 nominees for men and women have been formally announced. With Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Arsenal dominating the nominations after their respective Champions League victories in the men's and women's divisions, the lists show a dramatic shift in football's global influence.
Legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, are conspicuously missing from the list, suggesting that a significant period in football history may be coming to an end.
Fans and analysts currently back Ousmane Dembélé, Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha as leading contenders for the men’s award, while Barcelona and Arsenal players dominate the women’s list.
The nominations this year favour clubs that shined in Europe. PSG, who won the Champions League in Munich against Inter Milan, also clinched the Ligue 1 title and their domestic cup. This dominance reflects in the men's nominee list, which features multiple PSG stars like Ousmane Dembélé, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Désiré Doué, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Fabián Ruiz.
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Arsenal’s dominance in the women’s game is equally evident. Players like Mariona Caldentey, Steph Catley, Emily Fox, Frida Maanum, Alessia Russo, and Leah Williamson make the cut. The English club lifted the Women’s Champions League this season, adding to their stellar year.
This year's men’s Ballon d’Or nominees include: Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembélé, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Désiré Doué, Denzel Dumfries, Serhou Guirassy, Erling Haaland, Viktor Gyökeres, Robert Lewandowski, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Alexis Mac Allister, Lautaro Martinez, Scott McTominay, Kylian Mbappé, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, Michael Olise, Cole Palmer, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz, Declan Rice, Raphinha, Mohamed Salah, Vinícius Júnior, Virgil van Dijk, Vitinha, Florian Wirtz, and Lamine Yamal.
The winner from the previous year, Rodri, is not playing because of an ACL injury sustained in September 2024. Another significant factor that highlights a generational shift is the absence of Messi and Ronaldo.
Barcelona and Arsenal lead the women's list with numerous nominees, but there are also standouts from teams like Olympique Lyon, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Orlando Pride.
The full list includes: Sandy Baltimore, Barbra Banda, Aitana Bonmatí, Lucy Bronze, Klara Bühl, Mariona Caldentey, Sofia Cantore, Steph Catley, Temwa Chawinga, Melchie Dumornay, Emily Fox, Cristina Girelli, Esther González, Caroline Graham Hansen, Hannah Hampton, Pernille Harder, Patri Guijarro, Amanda Gutierres, Lindsey Heaps, Chloe Kelly, Frida Maanum, Marta, Clara Mateo, Ewa Pajor, Clàudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Caroline Weir, and Leah Williamson.
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This year’s nominations underscore a generational handover in world football. A few years ago, it was unimaginable that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would not have cut.
The focus has now shifted to young, talented players as both icons have left elite European football and their impact is gradually dwindling. Stars like Lamine Yamal, Désiré Doué, and Florian Wirtz represent a new generation of talent that will rule the next ten years.
Organizers will host the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday, September 22, a month earlier than usual. With a more open race than ever before in both the men's and women's divisions, expectations are high this year.
