Ballon d’Or 2025: Key information
The 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in October 2025, several months after the conclusion of the current campaign. It will be staged at the impressive Théâtre du Châtelet, a performing arts venue located on the banks of the River Seine. For the last five years, the event has been hosted by former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and respected French journalist Sandy Heribert.
The 30-player shortlist for the award is expected to be released in September, with the voting process commencing soon after. There have been several different voting systems used to determine the Ballon d’Or recipient throughout its nearly seven-decade history, involving various stakeholders in the game. Currently, the judging panel consists of a selected journalist from all countries featured in the top 100 of FIFA’s official world rankings.
The shortlist itself is produced by a mixture of media and UEFA personnel, with the editorial staff of France Football, a group of writers affiliated with French newspaper L'Équipe, the ‘best’ juror (selected journalist) from the previous year’s panel, and UEFA ambassador (and former Portuguese international) Luís Figo all involved in the decision-making process.
What measures are used to determine the winner of the Ballon d’Or?
The judging panel is asked to consider three main criteria when selecting a winner. These are as follows:
1. Quality of the player’s performances, factoring their decisiveness, flair, or character into the equation if appropriate.
2. Achievements and performances of the club they represent, giving suitable attention to teams that have exceeded expectations/pre-season objectives.
3. Acts of fair play and sportsmanship
A player does not need to necessarily score well against all three measures to secure the Ballon d’Or, but there must be sufficient evidence to support their case. Typically, the recipient will have delivered a series of exceptional displays en route to winning a major honour with their club, and therefore the first two criteria often go hand-in-hand. For example, Lionel Messi claimed his eighth Ballon d’Or after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, netting seven goals (two of which came in a breathtaking final against the French) in as many matches in Qatar.
A handful of other awards are dished out during the Ballon d’Or ceremony. These have been established to recognise the performances of various individuals, including gifting youngsters, prolific goal scorers, and inspirational coaches. The following accolades will once again be up for grabs this October:
Kopa Trophy: Named after the first-ever French recipient of the Ballon d’Or, the Kopa Trophy recognises the world’s best young player. Candidates must still be under the age of under 21 at the end of the campaign which proceeds the awarding ceremony, but may also feature on the Ballon d’Or shortlist. The trophy is awarded based on the same criteria used to determine the Ballon d’Or winner, although the voting system differs slightly.
Yashin Trophy: Over six decades have passed since Lev Yashin won the Ballon d’Or, but we’re yet to see another goalkeeper place their trusted hands on the golden gong. As goalkeepers are often undervalued and struggle to command the same level of attention as prospective Ballon d’Or recipients, the Yashin Trophy was introduced to acknowledge the world’s best player in this position.
Gerd Müller Trophy: Awarded to the player who has scored the highest number of combined goals for club and country throughout the previous season, the Gerd Müller Trophy was originally entitled ‘Striker of the Year’ upon its inception four years ago. After predatory marksman Müller died in August 2021, the accolade was appropriately re-named in his honour.
Please note that only players representing European (UEFA-affiliated) teams are eligible to receive the Gerd Müller Trophy.
Johan Cruyff Trophy: Introduced at last year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, the Johan Cruyff Trophy acknowledges the best coach of the year. The award is named after Johan Cruyff, who won three Ballons d’Or as a player before enjoying highly successful managerial spells with Ajax and most notably Barcelona.
A natural leader, master tactician, and expert at identifying and developing young talent, Johan Cruyff embodied all the traits of a truly world-class manager. The Amsterdam-born icon was able to effectively impose his unique footballing philosophy on his players, resulting in the acquisition of an array of trophies. The winner of the Johan Cruyff Trophy should possess similar qualities to the late, great Dutchman, and therefore be capable of inspiring their teams – whether at club or international level – to achieve great things.
Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy: Adopts the same criteria as the equivalent men’s award. Issued to the best female coach in the world.
Best Club of the Year: Although this award is usually distributed to a club that has recently won a continental or international title, it's possible for other teams to stake their claim. Manchester City were handed this accolade in October 2022, despite having exited the Champions League at the semi-final stage earlier that year. The Citizens would once again be crowned the world’s best club twelve months later, after ending their 53-year wait for European silverware thanks to a narrow victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul.
Women’s Best Club of the Year: Adopts the same criteria as the equivalent men’s award. Issued to the best women’s club of the year.
Sócrates Award: Four decades after Sócrates co-established the Corinthians Democracy movement in a bid to challenge Brazil’s oppressive military dictatorship, Ballon d’Or organisers determined to recognise players who have made a significant humanitarian impact – whether that be in a footballing context or otherwise.
Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mané was the inaugural recipient of the Sócrates Award, having personally funded a series of social welfare programmes in his native Senegal.
Ballon d'Or Féminin: Following the same purpose as the men’s award, the Ballon d'Or Féminin is delivered to the world’s current best female footballer. Its voting system is a slightly scaled-down version of the one used to determine the Ballon d’Or winner, with 50 (rather than 100) journalists involved in the decision-making process. Only four players have won the Ballon d'Or Féminin since its inception in 2018, with Catalan duo Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí both receiving the award on two separate occasions.
Ranked: Who are the current favourites to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or?
As the current campaign reaches its climatic stages, the prospective nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or are starting to take shape. Although the outcome of the Champions League final and performances during the Club World Cup could have a decisive impact, only a handful of players are considered to have a realistic chance of winning the prestigious award.
According to the latest betting markets, the top ten players most likely to receive the Ballon d’Or are as follows:
1. Ousmane Dembélé – Paris Saint Germain (7/4)
2. Lamine Yamal – Barcelona (3/1)
3. Raphinha – Barcelona (5/1)
4. Gianluigi Donnarumma – Paris Saint-Germain (9/1)
5. Lautaro Martínez – Inter Milan (7/1)
6. Mohamed Salah – Liverpool (10/1)
7. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Paris Saint-Germain (10/1)
8. Achraf Hakimi – Paris Saint-Germain (25/1)
9. Pedri – Barcelona (25/1)
10. Désiré Doué – Paris Saint-Germain (40/1)
*The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change
As the jurors tend to elevate those who have recently acquired Champions League winners’ medals, it’s no coincidence that the bookies’ list of favourites is permeated with Paris Saint-Germain players. Argentinian marksman Lautaro Martínez may be the only representative from fellow finalists Inter Milan, but Nerazzurri trio Marcus Thuram, Yann Sommer, and Alessandro Bastoni can’t be written off.
The positioning of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha amongst the favourites is a testament to the Barça duo’s level of performance this term, having remained in contention despite the Catalans’ recent Champions League elimination and absence from this summer’s Club World Cup.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is the only top-ten candidate not to have featured in the semi-final of UEFA’s most prestigious club competition this season, but has already scooped the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Player of the Year. It’s the third time the Egyptian has earned the award, equalling the record set by former Arsenal star Thierry Henry.
Let’s look at the three favourites in closer detail, charting their achievements, stats, and personal influence over the last twelve months.
Ousmane Dembélé – Paris Saint Germain
After failing to recapture the scintillating form that saw secure big-money moves to Barcelona and PSG in recent seasons, Ousmane Dembélé is now back to his imperious best. The fleet-footed Frenchman propelled the Parisians to an eleventh Ligue 1 title in 13 years, registering 21 goals in just 28 appearances. If he can add to his impressive Champions League scoring tally at the Allianz Arena later this month, the dynamic forward may already have one hand on the trophy.
Nevertheless, more could come. Dembélé also has the opportunity to shine at the revamped Club World Cup, which is set to attract larger audiences than any previous iteration of the competition. By the time they line up for their Group B opener against fellow European outfit Atlético Madrid in Pasadena, Luis Enrique’s men may be targeting a fifth major honour of the 2024/25 campaign.
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
Although still very much at the formative stage of his highly promising career, Lamine Yamal plays with the swagger, confidence, and personality of an experienced world-class player. Blessed with quick feet, glue-like close control, and a wand of a left foot, the Barcelona-born wonder kid is every defender’s worst nightmare.
After a breathtaking breakthrough campaign last term which culminated in winning the European Championships as a key member of the Spanish national team, Yamal has taken his game to new heights over the past year. The teenager has already made over a half-century of appearances during the 2024/25 campaign, a phenomenal achievement for a player yet to celebrate his eighteenth birthday. In addition to netting in both the semi-final and final of the Spanish Super Cup and recording 21 direct goal involvements in La Liga action, Yamal has produced several big performances in Europe.
Barça’s failure to secure any silverware outside of Spain could prove costly, but the La Masia graduate may still become the youngest-ever Ballon d’Or recipient this year. Even if he doesn’t achieve this objective in the coming months, Yamal still has plenty of time to break R9’s long-standing record….
Raphinha – Barcelona
Raphinha’s talent has always been clear to see, but few would have expected him to have such an impact in Catalonia. This has been the Brazilian’s best campaign since trading West Yorkshire for Catalonia back in the summer of 2022, registering a staggering 34 goals across all competitions.
Unless Lautaro Martínez or Ousmane Dembélé perform a miracle in the final, the former Leeds United star will be this season’s joint-top Champions League goalscorer alongside Guinean frontman Serhou Guirassy. During the initial phase of the competition, Raphinha registered a remarkable hat-trick in Barcelona’s 4-1 hammering of Bayern Munich at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The versatile attacker also claimed two goals and an assist in the Spanish Super Cup final, as the Catalans overcame bitter rivals Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia.
While it’s unlikely he’ll leapfrog Ousmane Dembélé in the pecking order, Raphinha may steal second place away from teammate Lamine Yamal.
Potential drama?
Organisers will hope that the distribution of the 2025 Ballon d’Or won’t provoke the same level of controversy we saw in the lead-up to last year’s ceremony.
After it was revealed that Manchester City midfielder Rodri would be given the award at the expense of Vinícius Júnior, it was announced all Real Madrid personnel would boycott the event as a sign of protest. The Brazilian winger had netted in Spanish Super Cup, Champions League, and Intercontinental Cup finals during the 2022/23 campaign, as Los Blancos secured a deluge of silverware. However, to the dismay of many plying their trade at the Santiago Bernabéu, the voting panel determined that Rodri was the rightful winner.
Lionel Messi’s hegemony appears to have finally come to an end, having last been crowned Ballon d’Or winner in 2023 and not considered a viable candidate this time around. The diminutive Argentinian was proclaimed the MLS’ MVP after securing the Supporters Shield with Inter Miami in 2024, but wasn’t in a position to emulate his stunning individual and team achievements of the past.
Real Madrid duo Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham are also set to miss out, despite often being namedropped as two of the world’s best footballers. Following his landmark move to the Spanish capital last summer, Mbappé has sometimes fallen a little short of his exceptionally high personal standards. Nevertheless, the rapid Frenchman has regularly been on the scoresheet this term, grabbing an impressive 38 goals in 52 appearances. Bellingham enjoyed a trophy-laden debut season in the famous white jersey, playing a key role as Real Madrid clinched La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup, the Champions League, and the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup. However, the powerful English midfielder has found the going a little tougher this term.
One or two players may still upset the apple cart, particularly those who are preparing to play in this month’s Champions League final. Georgian wizard Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could be considered a dark horse following some recent spectacular displays, while the goalkeeping union will be desperate for Gianluigi Donnarumma to join fellow shot-stopper Lev Yashin on the list of Ballon d’Or laureates.
Ballon d’Or 2024: Winners
Hobbling up to the stage on crutches, few Ballon d’Or winners have received their award in such inauspicious circumstances. Rodri may have struggled to navigate his way around the Théâtre du Châtelet last October, but the Spanish international regularly covered every blade of grass throughout the 2023/24 campaign.
Although those of a Real Madrid persuasion would suggest Vinícius Júnior was more deserving of the honour, few could challenge Rodri’s credentials. A critical component of Pep Guardiola’s well-oiled machine, the majestic midfielder played a starring role as Manchester City secured a fourth consecutive Premier League title. Despite being renowned for his extensive range of passing, tactical awareness, and expert reading of the game, Rodri would pitch in with 19 direct goal involvements in his 38 domestic appearances. The Ballon d’Or panel may have also been subconsciously influenced by his exploits in the previous season, which included netting a Champions League final winner and claiming the Golden Ball – an award presented to the tournament’s best player – at the 2023 Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
2024 Ballon d’Or – Top ten rankings
1. Rodri (Manchester City)
2. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
3. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
4. Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
5. Erling Haaland (Norway)
6. Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)
7. Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
8. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
9. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
10. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
The winners of the other awards issued during the Ballon d’Or ceremony were as follows:
Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
2nd – Arda Güler (Real Madrid), 3rd – Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
2nd – Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), 3rd – Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid)
Gerd Müller Trophy: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) and Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)
As both players scored exactly 53 goals (with an identical split between club and country goals) throughout the 2023/24 campaign, Kane and Mbappé shared the award.
Johan Cruyff Trophy: Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
2nd – Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen), 3rd – Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy: Emma Hayes (Chelsea & USA)
2nd - Jonatan Giráldez (Barcelona & Washington Spirit), 3rd – Arthur Elias (Corinthians & Brazil)
Best Club of the Year: Real Madrid
Women’s Best Club of the Year: Barcelona
Sócrates Award: Jenni Hermoso (Tigres UANL)
(For raising awareness of sexual abuse in football after former Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales kissed her on the lips during the 2023 Women’s World Cup Final medal ceremony)
Ballon d'Or Féminin: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)
2nd – Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona), 3rd – Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
Stats & records
Although every elite footballer on the planet is now eligible to win the Ballon d’Or, it was originally reserved for those of European origin. This criteria was altered in 1995 so that non-European players could be considered, although any prospective candidate must have been registered to a UEFA-affiliated club. AC Milan’s George Weah immediately profited from this rule change, as the Liberian became the first (and only) African to be declared the world’s best footballer.
Having claimed the first of his two Ballons d’Or at the modest age of 21 years and 96 days, Brazilian legend Ronaldo remains the youngest player ever to receive the prestigious award. As referenced earlier, Lev Yashin is the only goalkeeper in history to have won the Ballon d’Or. The Soviet shot-stopper completed this unique achievement in 1963, while playing for boyhood club Dynamo Moscow.
A ‘Super Ballon d’Or’ was issued to Alfredo Di Stéfano in 1989, after judges decided the former Real Madrid hero was the best player to have won the main award on more than one occasion. Di Stéfano was selected ahead of several footballing icons, including the likes of Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Franz Beckenbauer.
As the duo’s South American heritage kiboshed any chance of receiving a Ballon d’Or throughout their respective distinguished career, Pelé and Diego Maradona – arguably the finest players to have ever crossed the white line – were retrospectively recognised. Argentinian luminary Maradona received the ‘Golden’ Ballon d’Or in 1995, while three-time World Cup winner Pelé was awarded the FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur almost two decades later.
The modern era of the Ballon d’Or has been characterised by an absorbing battle for supremacy between two men, as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo attempt to achieve ‘GOAT’ status. The supremely talented pair have racked up a cumulative total of 13 Ballons d’Or, resulting in just three other players – Croatian Luka Modrić, former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, and the aforementioned Rodri – receiving the award in the last 17 years. Although it appears the Messi/Ronaldo duopoly has now officially come to an end, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see such a period of dominance from two gifted rivals again.
Ballon d’Or wins:
Most individual
8 – Lionel Messi (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)
5 – Cristiano Ronaldo (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten all have three awards each.
Most successful countries
8 – Argentina (all Lionel Messi)
7 – France (Michel Platini x 3, Raymond Kopa, Zinedine Zidane, Jean-Pierre Papin, Karim Benzema)
7 – Germany (Franz Beckenbauer x2, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge x2, Gerd Müller, Lothar Matthäus, Matthias Sammer)
7 – Netherlands (Johan Cruyff x 3, Marco van Basten x 3, Ruud Gullit)
7 – Portugal (Cristiano Ronaldo x5, Eusébio, Luís Figo)
Most successful clubs
12 – Real Madrid (Cristiano Ronaldo x4, Alfredo Di Stéfano x2, Raymond Kopa, Luís Figo, Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro, Luka Modrić, Karim Benzema)
12 – Barcelona (Lionel Messi x6, Johan Cruyff x2, Luis Suárez (1960), Hristo Stoichkov, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho)
8 – Juventus (Michel Platini x3, Omar Sívori, Paolo Rossi, Roberto Baggio, Zinedine Zidane, Pavel Nedvěd)
8 – AC Milan (Marco van Basten x3, Gianni Rivera, Ruud Gullit, George Weah, Andriy Shevchenko, Kaká)