For the second year in a row, the 2025 Ballon d’Or will crown a new winner, as last year’s champion Rodri did not make the list of 30 nominees released on August 7. The list is dominated by players from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who claimed the Champions League title in June.
Notably absent are Lionel Messi, who won the award eight times with the last in 2023, and Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time winner. PSG leads with nine nominees, reflecting their recent success on the European stage.
Barcelona, winners of the Spanish league and cup double, have four nominees, including the youngest nominee, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, and veteran Robert Lewandowski, 36. Real Madrid, who boycotted last year’s ceremony, have three nominees, including Brazilian star Vinicius Junior.
Napoli, champions of Italy’s Serie A, have one nominee: Scott McTominay. If McTominay wins, he will be the first player from Napoli (Diego Maradona’s former club) to win the award and only the second Scottish player ever, after Denis Law in 1964.
The winner will be announced on September 22 at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Full List of 2025 Ballon d’Or Nominees:
- Ousmane Dembele (FRA/PSG)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (ITA/PSG)
- Jude Bellingham (ENG/Real Madrid)
- Desire Doue (FRA/PSG)
- Denzel Dumfries (NED/Inter)
- Serhou Guirassy (GUI/Dortmund)
- Erling Haaland (NOR/Man City)
- Viktor Gyokeres (SWE/Arsenal)
- Achraf Hakimi (MAR/PSG)
- Harry Kane (ENG/Bayern)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (GEO/PSG)
- Robert Lewandowski (POL/Barcelona)
- Alexis Mac Allister (ARG/Liverpool)
- Lautaro Martinez (ARG/Inter)
- Scott McTominay (SCO/Napoli)
- Kylian Mbappe (FRA/Real Madrid)
- Nuno Mendes (POR/PSG)
- Joao Neves (POR/PSG)
- Pedri (ESP/Barcelona)
- Cole Palmer (ENG/Chelsea)
- Michael Olise (FRA/Bayern)
- Raphinha (BRA/Barcelona)
- Declan Rice (ENG/Arsenal)
- Fabian Ruiz (SCO/PSG)
- Virgil van Dijk (NED/Liverpool)
- Vinicius Junior (BRA/Real Madrid)
- Mohamed Salah (EGY/Liverpool)
- Florian Wirtz (GER/Liverpool)
- Vitinha (POR/PSG)
- Lamine Yamal (ESP/Barcelona)
