PSG’s Champions League hero and Barcelona’s teenage sensation top the list, while last year’s winner Rodri misses out due to injury.
The nominees for the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or have been unveiled, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal emerging as frontrunners for football’s most prestigious individual award.
Dembélé, a key figure in PSG’s historic Champions League triumph last season, headlines the 30-man shortlist alongside an impressive eight of his club teammates, including breakout talents Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Meanwhile, Yamal, the electrifying 19-year-old whose dazzling performances for both Barcelona and Spain have drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi, is also among the favorites.
Notably absent is last year’s winner, Manchester City’s Rodri, who missed most of the season with a serious knee injury before making a late return in the Premier League’s final weeks.
Despite PSG’s strong representation, the Premier League boasts the most nominees, with stars like Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, and Arsenal’s Declan Rice in contention. LaLiga also makes its mark with eight players, including Real Madrid duo Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.
Full 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
- Kylian Mbappé
- Scott McTominay
- Nuno Mendes
- João Neves
- Michael Olise
- Cole Palmer
- Pedri
- Raphinha
- Declan Rice
- Fabián Ruiz
- Mohamed Salah
- Virgil van Dijk
- Vinícius Júnior
- Vitinha
- Florian Wirtz
- Lamine Yamal
With a mix of established superstars and emerging talents, this year’s Ballon d’Or race promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Paris this December.
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