As anticipation builds ahead of the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, France Football has officially unveiled the full shortlist of nominees for both the men’s and women’s awards.
With the 2024/25 football season concluded, the 30-player shortlist for each category has been released ahead of the official ceremony scheduled for September 22. These players are now in contention for football’s most prestigious individual honor, awarded annually to the best performing players globally.
Top Contenders – Men’s Ballon d’Or 2025
A number of standout players have made the list, with some strong favorites emerging based on their performances over the past season:
Frontrunners:
- Ousmane Dembélé (France, PSG)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
- Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid)
- Raphinha (Brazil, Barcelona)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
- Vitinha (Portugal, PSG)
These players dominated European and international competitions, delivering consistent brilliance and lifting major trophies, which has put them in strong contention for this year’s golden ball..
Other Notable Male Nominees
Among other expected nominees are:
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- Erling Haaland (Man City)
- Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- Vinícius Jr. (Real Madrid)
The list also includes players who had breakout seasons or played pivotal roles at both club and national levels.
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2025: Leading the Pack
The women’s shortlist features several returning names along with rising stars. Among the top contenders are:
Frontrunners:
- Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona)
- Barbara Banda (Zambia, Orlando Pride)
- Sandy Baltimore (France, Chelsea)
- Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona)
- Lucy Bronze (England, Chelsea)
- Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona)
They are joined by other top performers like:
- Alessia Russo (England, Arsenal)
- Patri Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
- Claudia Pina (Spain, Barcelona)
- Chloe Kelly (England, Arsenal)
Prize and Ceremony
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on September 22 in Paris. The voting panel—composed of international journalists, coaches, and national team captains—will evaluate the players’ contributions, individual achievements, and influence over the season.
This year’s awards promise to be highly competitive, especially as players from different leagues and continents have made compelling cases for themselves.
Stay tuned for live coverage of the ceremony and in-depth profiles on each finalist as the football world inches closer to crowning its best of 2025.
Source – My News Ghana
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