The stage is set, the contenders have been named, and the spotlight is shifting. The 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees list has officially been unveiled ahead of the 69th edition of the world’s most prestigious soccer awards, and once again, two legendary names are absent. As the golden era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo fades into the background, a new generation has firmly taken center stage—led by dynamic forwards, midfield visionaries, and teenage prodigies ready to define the next decade. No Messi. No Ronaldo. Yet, the list is brimming with brilliance.
The leading candidate for this year’s Ballon d’Or is Ousmane Dembele, who enjoyed a sensational season with Paris Saint-Germain. His dazzling dribbling and ruthless finishing were pivotal as PSG lifted a historic treble—including their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.
Right behind him is Lamine Yamal, the teenage sensation from Barcelona, who continues to shatter records and rewrite expectations for what’s possible at just 17 years old. Already crowned Youngest Scorer in Euro history and a recipient of both the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy, Yamal’s presence on the shortlist confirms the arrival of a generational star. And he’s not alone.
The rise of the new guard
Also making waves are Kylian Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid last summer, and Erling Haaland, who continues his monstrous scoring run at Manchester City. But the narrative this year is broader. It isn’t just about the biggest clubs—it’s about standout seasons, wherever they happened.
Cole Palmer earned his spot with a heroic showing in Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup victory, while Scott McTominay stunned the world by not only helping Napoli to their fourth Scudetto but also being named Serie A MVP. “This year’s shortlist reflects an evolution in football’s landscape,” wrote UEFA on its official site. “It’s not about reputation—it’s about performance.”
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held at the Theatre du Châtelet in Paris on September 22 and will feature awards for best players, coaches, clubs, and goalkeepers, as well as the Socrates Award for social impact.
Full list of 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Denzel Dumfries (Inter)
- Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
- Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
- Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
- Scott McTominay (Napoli)
- Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- Pedri (Barcelona)
- Raphinha (Barcelona)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
- Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
- Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
