Paris SG forward Ousmane Dembélé was awarded the Ballon d’Or 2025 this Monday at a ceremony held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, becoming the sixth French player to claim the prestigious honor.
The Parisian number 10’s name was announced by Brazilian legend Ronaldinho during the final award of the night, amid applause from the audience, who had been chanting his name just moments earlier.
Dembélé’s 35 goals and 16 assists, along with PSG’s triumphs in the Champions League, Ligue 1, and French Cup, were decisive in the journalists’ voting, placing him ahead of Lamine Yamal.
Check the list of all winners in every category of the 2025 Ballon d’Or
| Categories / Awards | Winners | Second place | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Men’s Ballon d’Or | Ousmane Dembélé | Lamine Yamal | Vitinha |
| The Women’s Ballon d’Or | Aitana Bonmatí | Mariona Caldentey | Alessia Russo |
| The Men’s Kopa Trophy | Lamine Yamal | Désiré Doué | Joao Neves |
| The Women’s Kopa Trophy | Vicky López | — | — |
| The Men’s Yashin Trophy | Gianluigi Donnarumma | — | — |
| The Women’s Yashin Trophy | Hannah Hampton | — | — |
| The Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy | Viktor Gyökeres | — | — |
| The Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy | Ewa Pajor | — | — |
| The Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy | Luis Enrique | — | — |
| The Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy | Sarina Wiegman | — | — |
| The Men’s Club of the Year Trophy | Paris Saint-Germain | — | — |
| The Women’s Club of the Year Trophy | Arsenal | — | — |
| The Sócrates Award | Fundación Xana | — | — |
How are the 2025 Ballon d’Or winners chosen?
- Specialized journalists from around the world vote, one from each FIFA-affiliated country.
- Each voter selects a list of players, ranking them according to their performance during the season.
- Three main criteria are assessed: individual and team performance, talent and fair play, and the player’s overall trajectory throughout the competitive year.
- The scores are then tallied and the winners are announced at the gala.
You can vote for the Ballon d’Or online.
No. There are 100 journalists who vote in the men’s Ballon d’Or 2025 category; one journalist is chosen from each of the 100 highest-ranked countries in the men’s FIFA rankings.
What awards are up for grabs at the 2025 Ballon d’Or?
In this edition, 13 trophies will be presented in total: six for men’s football, six for women’s football, and the Sócrates Award. Highlights include:
- The Men’s Ballon d’Or (best player, 2024/25 season)
- The Women’s Ballon d’Or (best player, 2024/25 season)
- The Men’s Kopa Trophy (best young player, 2024/25 season)
- The Women’s Kopa Trophy (best young player, 2024/25 season)
- The Men’s Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper, 2024/25 season)
- The Women’s Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper, 2024/25 season)
- The Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy (top goalscorer for club/national team, 2024/25 season)
- The Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy (top goalscorer for club/national team, 2024/25 season)
- The Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach in club/national team, 2024/25 season)
- The Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach in club/national team, 2024/25 season)
- The Men’s Club of the Year Trophy
- The Women’s Club of the Year Trophy
- The Sócrates Award
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, striker, 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, central 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, centre‑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.
List of favorites to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
LaLiga’s top scorer, but with no titles in 2025—a deficit that weighs heavily in a race as tight as the Ballon d’Or. The defeat in the Club World Cup against PSG ended up diluting the chances his candidacy still held in the predictions.
Nuno Mendes (PSG)
Phenomenal performance in the Champions League final and a Nations League title with Portugal, a combo that places him among the most influential full-backs of the season. His status as possibly the best left-back in the world this season gives him an uncommon edge for his position.
Fabián Ruiz (PSG)
Another PSG midfielder in the conversation thanks to the Champions League and a very solid campaign, although the stumble at the Club World Cup doesn’t help with certain voters. His consistency and influence in midfield explain why he appears among betting favorites.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)
Arrived in January from Napoli and was decisive in PSG’s dominance in the league and, above all, finally winning the Champions League, in addition to the Coupe de France. He closes the season with the Champions League, a domestic cup and, interestingly, two league titles in his yearly honors because Napoli ended up winning Serie A after his departure.
Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
Another heavyweight from the European champions, backed by a complete season and the collective boost of PSG’s titles. His impact on both sides of the pitch keeps him in the conversation despite fierce internal competition within his own team.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
A figure of the club world champions: he was Chelsea’s best player in their Club World Cup triumph, a strong point with voters. If the weight of the Club World Cup gains narrative traction, his candidacy could climb in the counts.
Raphinha (Barcelona)
A tremendous season in a Barça that achieved a domestic treble: LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España in Hansi Flick’s first year. The absence of the Champions League could be the Achilles’ heel of his candidacy, despite his brilliance in domestic competitions.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Won the Premier League and was named the season’s best in England, but did not score in the tie against PSG and that may count against him. With the narrative focused on the Champions League and big European nights, his case needs more continental milestones to prevail.
Vitinha (PSG)
Adds a Champions League with PSG and a Nations League with Portugal, a combination that has historically favored midfielders who influence multiple titles. His season balances collective and individual impact, a profile that is typically well-valued in voting.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
At just 18, he’s already elite: decisive in the Champions League semifinals against Inter and a hero with Spain in the Nations League, with a brace against France in the semis. The LaLiga–Copa double with Barça gives him a trophy base, though without the Champions League his candidacy depends on how much his big nights and precocious breakout weigh.
Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)
A betting favorite: pivotal in PSG’s Champions League, with a goal in the semifinals against Arsenal and two assists against Inter in the final. Only two players have scored more goals than him in 2025 and, moreover, he has achieved what Neymar, Messi and Mbappé could not: winning the Champions League with PSG, despite the stumble in the Club World Cup against Palmer’s Chelsea.
