Ballon d’Or, translated to “Golden Ball” in French, is one of football’s most prestigious individual awards, awarded annually based on performance in the European club season (August to July).
The official ceremony will take place on September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris. Lionel Messi has the most awards, with eight to his name. Rodri won the Men’s Ballon d’Or last year, while Aitana Bonmati won the women’s prize.
The list of nominees has been revealed, one that doesn’t include last year’s winner, Rodri, who missed much of the season due to injury. Here is a quick peek at the nominees.
Scott McTominay, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane are Among the Nominees
The 2025 Ballon d’Or list includes a nice blend of youth, experience, and standout performances across Europe’s top clubs. Despite a rather underwhelming season, three Real Madrid players made the list:
- Kylian Mbappe
- Vinícius Júnior
- Jude Bellingham.
FC Barcelona’s players fared better with:
- Lamine Yamal
- Robert Lewandowski
- Pedri
- Raphinha
Liverpool also had four nominations given to:
- Mohamed Saleh
- Alexis Mac Allister
- Virgil van Dijk
- Florian Wirtz
These nominations made Liverpool the most represented Premier League club.
However, Paris Saint-Germain has the most nominations with nine:
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Désiré Doué
- Achraf Hakimi
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Nuno Mendes
- João Neves
- Vitinha.
Bayern’s Harry Kane and Michael Olise also made the list of nominees. Nonetheless, the standout nomination is Scott McTominay, who moved from Manchester United to Napoli, making him Scotland’s most successful nominee in decades.
Other notable nominees include:
- Chelsea’s Cole Palmer
- Arsenal’s Declan Rice
- Inter’s Denzel Dumfries
- Lautaro Martinez
- Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy
The Ballon d’Or Could Do Wonders!
The Ballon d’Or remains football’s most coveted individual prize, celebrating players who combine elite skill, consistency, and impact on the biggest stages.
Last year, Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí claimed the honours, underlining Spain’s current dominance in both men’s and women’s football. With the 2025 shortlist now revealed, the stage is set for another intense race, which could crown a new superstar or further cement an established legend’s place in history.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for further updates.
