The countdown has begun. On Monday, September 22, the football world will be dressed up for the 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual award in the sport. The setting could only be the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, which has already become a temple of football and its stars.
When will the 2025 Ballon d’Or be awarded?
The ceremony will begin at 3:00 pm (ET), with millions of fans watching to see who will succeed as the best player on the planet.
The excitement is high not only because of the name of the winner, but also because of the spectacular list of candidates. In total, the list brings together 30 world-class footballers, with representatives from all the major European leagues and a balance between established figures and new promises. This is the complete list:
- Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
- Ousmane Dembele (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Desire Doue (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands, Inter)
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea, Borussia Dortmund)
- Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden, Sporting CP/Arsenal)
- Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Napoli/Paris Saint-Germain)
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Barcelona)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina, Liverpool)
- Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter Milan)
- Kylian Mbappe (France, Real Madrid)
- Scott McTominay (Scotland, Napoli)
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Joao Neves (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Michael Olise (France, Bayern)
- Cole Palmer (England, Chelsea)
- Pedri (Spain, Barcelona)
- Raphinha (Brazil, Barcelona)
- Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
- Fabian Ruiz (Spain, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
- Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands, Liverpool)
- Vinicius Junior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
- Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Florian Wirtz (Germany, Leverkusen/Liverpool)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
But this year’s gala will be even more special. From 2024, UEFA and the Amaury Group, owner of France Football and L’Equipe, will jointly organise the event, reinforcing its global reach and further elevating the prestige of a trophy that has been awarded continuously since 1956.
In addition, the 2025 edition will mark a milestone with the expansion of categories. In addition to the traditional men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, there will be men’s and women’s awards for the Kopa Trophy (best young player), Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), Gerd Muller Trophy (top scorer) and Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach). There will also be a Club of the Year award in both categories and the Socrates Prize, which honours the social work of athletes committed to charitable causes, will be presented.
Everything is set in Paris for an evening that promises to be historic, where talent, emotion and footballing greatness will come together on one of the most eagerly awaited nights on the sporting calendar.
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