The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place in Paris, France, where the best players in the world for the 2024/25 season will be crowned. The men’s and women’s awards are highly anticipated, with several top contenders vying for the prestigious trophy.
Men’s Ballon d’Or Contenders
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Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain): Dembélé is a strong favourite after a historic season with PSG, which saw the club win its first-ever Champions League title. He was a key figure in their historic treble, scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 and being named the Champions League Player of the Season with 8 goals and 6 assists.
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Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): The 18-year-old winger had a breakout season, helping Barcelona win the domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España. He was named La Liga’s Player of the Month in September and was a standout in both the league and Champions League.
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): In his first season with Real Madrid, Mbappé finished as the top goal scorer in La Liga with 31 goals. He also scored a hat-trick to eliminate Manchester City in the Champions League and reached 50 goals for the French national team.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): Salah played a crucial role in Liverpool’s Premier League title win. He tied the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game season with 29 goals and 18 assists, and won his fourth Golden Boot.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): The England captain finally won his first major trophy, leading Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title. He finished as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals.
Raphinha (Barcelona): The Brazilian forward also played a vital role in Barcelona’s treble-winning season, earning the La Liga Player of the Season award with 18 goals and nine assists. He also finished as the joint-top scorer in the Champions League with 13 goals.
Women’s Ballon d’Or Féminin Contenders
Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal): A nominee after helping her side win the Women’s Champions League final against Barcelona.
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona): A two-time winner of the award, she is a strong contender once again.
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona): The defending champion, Bonmatí, is also in the mix, despite a season with fewer trophies for her club team.
Alessia Russo and Leah Williamson (Arsenal): Both players were instrumental in England’s Euro 2025 victory and their club’s Champions League triumph, boosting their chances for the award.
