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Ousmane Dembele and Chloe Kelly have emerged as the frontrunners to win the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards, which will be announced at a ceremony in Paris today.
The two forwards are at the top of a remarkable list of 30 men’s and 30 women’s nominees for football’s most prestigious individual honour.
Read Also: 2025 Ballon d’Or: Dembele, Yamal, Salah lead men’s race as Bonmati eyes repeat
Dembele played a crucial role in PSG’s historic Champions League triumph last season, also driving the French giants to another Ligue 1 crown.
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His dazzling form makes him the leading candidate among nine PSG nominees, with former teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma, now at Manchester City, also on the shortlist.
Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Liverpool’s record-breaking forward Mohamed Salah are among his main challengers.
On the women’s side, Kelly’s stock rose after a decisive year in which she scored the winning penalty in England’s Euro 2025 final victory over world champions Spain.
She also lifted the Women’s Champions League with surprise winners Arsenal, making her a leading contender to break Barcelona’s dominance of the award.
Kelly faces competition from Lionesses teammates Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton, alongside two-time defending Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí.
Since its creation by France Football in 1956, the Ballon d’Or has been decided by votes from journalists worldwide, 100 countries for the men’s award and 50 for the women’s. Each journalist ranks their top choices, with points awarded accordingly.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or winners will be unveiled at a gala ceremony in central Paris on Monday night.
