We now know all the nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, which will seek a successor to Rodri. France Football officially announced the list of contenders for the end of September, when Paris will once again become the epicenter of the soccer world. Beyond the global recognition of lifting the award, this is the amount of money the winner will take home from France Football and UEFA for being chosen as the best in the world.
To many people’s surprise, Ballon d’Or winners do not receive any cash prize. Since the award’s creation, France Football has never included a monetary reward for its victors.
The organization believes that the prestige and global exposure of being named the world’s best player is reward enough. However, things are different when it comes to the clubs whose players win the trophy.
Club bonuses for Ballon d’Or winners
It’s common for Europe’s biggest clubs to include Ballon d’Or bonuses in their players’ contracts. At Real Madrid, for example, players like Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappé, or Eden Hazard in recent years could earn up to €5 million from the club if they won the award.
Similar arrangements are found across the Premier League, where Rodri is believed to have been rewarded by Manchester City for his 2024 triumph. UEFA and France Football maintain that no money should be distributed during a gala that is already considered the pinnacle of any career.
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The 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees
Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembélé, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Désiré Doué, Denzel Dumfries, Serhou Guirassy, Viktor Gyökeres, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Robert Lewandowski, Alexis Mac Allister, Lautaro Martínez, Scott McTominay, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Pedri, Cole Palmer, Michael Olise, Raphinha, Declan Rice, Fabián Ruiz, Virgil van Dijk, Vinicius Jr., Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Vitinha, and Lamine Yamal are the 30 nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
The winner will be announced on September 22, marking the second year that UEFA fully oversees the award—something that could influence leaks to the press and speculation in the weeks ahead. Last year’s controversy over Rodri’s win over Vinicius still lingers.
