The Ballon d’Or is set to get bigger in 2025. The most prestigious individual award is set to take place Monday September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
The award ceremony is jointly organised by UEFA and Groupe Amaury, owner of France Football and L’Équipe and this will be its 69th edition.
What new at Ballon d’Or Awards 2025
The Ballon d’Or awards have expanded to include three new categories celebrating the achievements of female players.
These are the Women’s Kopa Trophy for the best young player, the Women’s Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper and the Women’s Gerd Muller Trophy for the top scorer. These additions reflect a commitment to inclusivity and recognition of excellence in women’s football.
For the first time, equal number of awards will be given to men and women players. Awards to be included this year are as follows:
Read More
- Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or
- Men’s and Women’s Kopa Trophy (best young player)
- Men’s and Women’s Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper)
- Men’s and Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer in club/national team),
- Men’s and Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach in club/national team),
- Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year
- Sócrates Award, presented by L’Équipe group and Peace and Sport, for solidarity actions or societal causes carried out by a committed champion
The nominees will be announced at the beginning of August.
The awards are based on voting by a panel of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations. Each journalist selects 10 players from a list of 30 nominees, placing them in order from 10th to first.
The 2024 awards were won by Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri , while the women’s Ballon d’Or was won by Spain and Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati for the second successive year.
Also Read: Women’s Ballon d’Or Award Winners In History
There are several contenders for the top honours. Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele has had a standout season, scoring 33 goals and providing 10 assists, contributing significantly to PSG’s domestic and European campaigns. Barcelona’s Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have also been in a brilliant form for their team. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah also remains a strong contender with a consistent performance in the Premier League, despite the team’s early exit from Champions League.
In the women’s category, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati is a leading candidate, aiming for her third consecutive Ballon d’Or Feminin. Her consistent performances have been pivotal in Barcelona’s domestic and European successes.
