Table of Contents
- 1 Paris Saint-Germain’s triumphant Champions League campaign has earned them a dominant presence in the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominations, with nine players from Luis Enrique’s squad making the prestigious shortlist. Leading the pack is Ousmane Dembélé, the frontrunner for the award after a stellar season where he netted 35 goals in 53 appearances, driving PSG to a continental double alongside their Ligue 1 and Coupe de France victories.
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Paris Saint-Germain’s triumphant Champions League campaign has earned them a dominant presence in the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominations, with nine players from Luis Enrique’s squad making the prestigious shortlist. Leading the pack is Ousmane Dembélé, the frontrunner for the award after a stellar season where he netted 35 goals in 53 appearances, driving PSG to a continental double alongside their Ligue 1 and Coupe de France victories.
Joining Dembélé are PSG teammates Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and rising stars like João Neves and Desire Doué—a testament to the squad’s depth. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning side under Arne Slot also earned recognition, with Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and new signing Florian Wirtz securing nominations.
England’s Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Cole Palmer feature prominently, alongside Scotland’s Scott McTominay, who shone in his debut Serie A season with Napoli. Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé return as strong contenders, while Barcelona’s La Liga-winning quartet—Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Raphinha—round out the Spanish representation.
In the women’s category, two-time defending champion Aitana Bonmatí aims for a historic three-peat, while legendary Brazilian Marta, a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, adds a sentimental touch to the list. England’s Euro-winning squad also boasts five nominees, including captain Leah Williamson and Golden Boot hero Alessia Russo.
How Voting Works
A select panel from France Football and L’Équipe compiles the 30-player shortlist, with journalists from FIFA’s top 100 nations ranking their top 10. Points are allocated as follows:
- 1st: 15 pts
- 2nd: 12 pts
- 3rd: 10 pts
- … down to 10th: 1 pt
Past Winners
Men’s Ballon d’Or: Rodri (2024), Lionel Messi (2023, 2021), Karim Benzema (2022).
Women’s: Aitana Bonmatí (2024, 2023), Alexia Putellas (2022, 2021).
Other Awards Highlights
- Kopa Trophy (U21): Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal seeks back-to-back wins.
- Coach of the Year: PSG’s Luis Enrique, Liverpool’s Arne Slot, and England’s Sarina Wiegman (women’s favorite) lead the nominations.
- Yachine Trophy (Top Goalkeepers): Alisson, Donnarumma, and Thibaut Courtois headline the men’s list, while Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton features among the women.
The ceremony will take place on September 22 at Paris’ iconic Théâtre du Châtelet, crowning football’s brightest stars of the season.
