Paris is preparing to crown a new king. On one side, the supreme glory of Europe; on the other, the precocious genius who defies destiny. Ousmane Dembélé, standard-bearer of Paris Saint-Germain and Champions League winner, and Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s young gem, emerge as the leading candidates to lift the Ballon d’Or on Monday, September 22, for the first time in their careers.
The imposing Théâtre du Châtelet, illuminated as always on major occasions, will open its doors to the aristocracy of world football. There, where for so many years the scepter passed from Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo and back again, a new era is claiming its stage. The award went to them thirteen times between 2008 and 2023, but that dynasty came to an end in 2024, when Rodri, the indomitable Manchester City captain and leader of the Spanish national team at the European Championship, left his name engraved in gold alongside Aitana Bonmatí, the queen of women’s football.
Now, with Rodri sidelined with a long-term injury that has kept him out of the elite, Dembélé emerges as the favorite in the Parisian constellation. His brilliance has been dazzling: 35 goals in all competitions, a lethal comeback that filled the void left by Mbappé and propelled PSG to the Ligue 1 title, the Champions League, and Club World Cup glory.
PSG’s collective feat was overwhelming. In May, a historic 5-0 European final victory against Inter not only sealed the club’s supremacy but also placed nine of its warriors among the contenders for the throne: Désiré Doué, Hakimi, Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha, and Donnarumma, now City’s goalkeeper. Dembélé, however, takes a step forward, destined to inherit the mantle of the gods who ruled an era.
Facing him is Lamine Yamal, the child prodigy whose left foot already threatens to write indelible pages. At just seventeen years old, the Barcelona striker embodies the future knocking at the door of the present. The magic, audacity, and irreverence of those born to shine in eternal nights are distilled within him.
When the curtain falls and the gold lights rise, there will be silence for a moment; then, the roar. At that moment, Paris will no longer be a city, but an eternal echo that preserves a single name. And that night, before the eyes of the world, destiny will ask no permission: it will crown the chosen one and pave the way for anyone who dares to defy it.
What time is the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony in each country?
- United States (Washington, D.C.) — 3:00 p.m. (ET) — 22/09/25
- United States – Central (Chicago) — 2:00 p.m. (CT) — 22/09/25
- United States – Pacific (Los Angeles) — 12:00 p.m. (PT) — 22/09/25
- Puerto Rico (San Juan) — 15:00 (AST) — 22/09/25
- Mexico (Mexico City) — 13:00 (CST) — 22/09/25
- Guatemala (Guatemala City) — 13:00 (CST) — 22/09/25
- El Salvador (San Salvador) — 13:00 (CST) — 22/09/25
- Honduras (Tegucigalpa) — 13:00 (CST) — 22/09/25
- Nicaragua (Managua) — 13:00 (CST) — 22/09/25
- Costa Rica (San José) — 13:00 (CST) — 22/09/25
- Panama (Panama City) — 14:00 (EST) — 22/09/25
- Cuba (Havana) — 14:00 (EST) — 22/09/25
- Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo) — 15:00 (AST) — 22/09/25
- Colombia (Bogotá) — 14:00 (COT) — 22/09/25
- Peru (Lima) — 14:00 (PET) — 22/09/25
- Ecuador (Quito) — 14:00 (ECT) — 22/09/25
- Venezuela (Caracas) — 15:00 (VET) — 22/09/25
- Bolivia (La Paz) — 15:00 (BOT) — 22/09/25
- Chile (Santiago) — 15:00 (CLT) — 22/09/25
- Paraguay (Asunción) — 15:00 (PYT) — 22/09/25
- Argentina (Buenos Aires) — 16:00 (ART) — 22/09/25
- Uruguay (Montevideo) — 16:00 (UYT) — 22/09/25
- Brazil (Brasília) — 16:00 (BRT) — 22/09/25
- United Kingdom (London) — 20:00 (BST) — 22/09/25
- Scotland (Edinburgh) — 20:00 (BST) — 22/09/25
- Ireland (Dublin) — 20:00 (IST) — 22/09/25
- Northern Ireland (Belfast) — 20:00 (BST) — 22/09/25
- Portugal (Lisbon) — 20:00 (WEST) — 22/09/25
- Spain (Madrid) — 21:00 (CEST) — 22/09/25
- France (Paris) — 21:00 (CEST) — 22/09/25
- Italy (Rome) — 21:00 (CEST) — 22/09/25
- Germany (Berlin) — 21:00 (CEST) — 22/09/25
- Norway (Oslo) — 21:00 (CEST) — 22/09/25
- Sweden (Stockholm) — 21:00 (CEST) — 22/09/25
- Switzerland (Bern) — 21:00 (CEST) — 22/09/25
- Netherlands (Amsterdam) — 21:00 (CEST) — 22/09/25
- Denmark (Copenhagen) — 21:00 (CEST) — 22/09/25
- Nigeria (Abuja) — 20:00 (WAT) — 22/09/25
- South Africa (Pretoria) — 21:00 (SAST) — 22/09/25
- Russia (Moscow) — 22:00 (MSK) — 22/09/25
- Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) — 22:00 (AST) — 22/09/25
- United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi) — 00:00 (GST) — 23/09/25
- India (New Delhi) — 02:30 (IST) — 23/09/25
- China (Beijing) — 05:00 (CST) — 23/09/25
- Singapore (Singapore) — 05:00 (SGT) — 23/09/25
- Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) — 05:00 (MYT) — 23/09/25
- South Korea (Seoul) — 06:00 (KST) — 23/09/25
- Japan (Tokyo) — 06:00 (JST) — 23/09/25
- Australia (Perth) — 05:00 (AWST) — 23/09/25
- Australia (Adelaide) — 06:30 (ACST) — 23/09/25
- Australia (Sydney) — 07:00 (AEST) — 23/09/25
- New Zealand (Wellington) — 09:00 (NZST) — 23/09/25
Where to watch the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony live?
The ceremony will stream free worldwide on L’Équipe’s official YouTube channel, with regional TV partners carrying it in many countries. In the United States, it streams on Paramount+ and airs on CBS Sports Golazo, with red carpet at 2 p.m. ET and the ceremony at 3 p.m. ET.
UEFA lists broadcast partners by country, including Movistar Plus+ in Spain, DAZN in Germany and Italy, Sport TV in Portugal, Virgin Media in Ireland, TV2 in Norway, Viaplay in Sweden/Finland/Iceland, Ziggo Sport in the Netherlands, beIN in much of MENA/Asia, and Claro Sports across most of Latin America.
Who are the nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or?
- Jude Bellingham (England): 22, midfielder, Real Madrid.
- Ousmane Dembélé (France): 28, winger, Paris Saint-Germain.
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy): 26, goalkeeper, Paris Saint-Germain.
- Désiré Doué (France): 20, attacking midfielder, Paris Saint-Germain.
- Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands): 29, wing-back, Inter Milan.
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea): 29, forward, Borussia Dortmund.
- Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden): 27, forward, Arsenal.
- Erling Haaland (Norway): 25, forward, Manchester City.
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): 26, full-back, Paris Saint-Germain.
- Harry Kane (England): 32, forward, Bayern Munich.
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia): 24, winger, Paris Saint-Germain.
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland): 37, forward, Barcelona.
- Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina): 26, midfielder, Liverpool.
- Lautaro Martínez (Argentina): 28, forward, Inter Milan.
- Kylian Mbappé (France): 26, forward, Real Madrid.
- Scott McTominay (Scotland): 28, midfielder, Napoli.
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal): 23, full-back, Paris Saint-Germain.
- João Neves (Portugal): 20, defensive midfielder, Paris Saint-Germain.
- Michael Olise (France): 23, winger, Bayern Munich.
- Cole Palmer (England): 23, attacking midfielder/winger, Chelsea.
- Pedri (Spain): 22, midfielder, Barcelona.
- Raphinha (Brazil): 28, winger, Barcelona.
- Declan Rice (England): 26, defensive midfielder, Arsenal.
- Fabián Ruiz (Spain): 29, midfielder, Paris Saint-Germain.
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt): 33, winger, Liverpool.
- Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands): 34, center-back, Liverpool.
- Vinícius Jr. (Brazil): 25, winger, Real Madrid.
- Vitinha (Portugal): 25, midfielder, Paris Saint-Germain.
- Florian Wirtz (Germany): 22, attacking midfielder, Liverpool.
- Lamine Yamal (Spain): 18, winger, Barcelona.
What awards will be presented at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
- The Men’s Ballon d’Or (best male player, 2024/25 season)
- The Women’s Ballon d’Or (best female player, 2024/25 season)
- The Men’s Kopa Trophy (best young male player, 2024/25 season)
- The Women’s Kopa Trophy (best young female player, 2024/25 season)
- The Men’s Yashin Trophy (best male goalkeeper, 2024/25 season)
- The Women’s Yashin Trophy (best female goalkeeper, 2024/25 season)
- The Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy (top male goalscorer for club/national team, 2024/25 season)
- The Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy (top female goalscorer for club/national team, 2024/25 season)
- The Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (best male coach for club/national team, 2024/25 season)
- The Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (best female coach for club/national team, 2024/25 season)
- The Men’s Club of the Year award
- The Women’s Club of the Year award
- The Socrates Award
