Who won the Ballon d’Or 2025 trophy?
To get an answer, wait and watch for the Ballon d’Or winner.
Football’s biggest night, Ballon d’Or 2025, is knocking on the door. The Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony takes place on Monday, September 22. The Theatre du Chatelet in Paris will crown the world’s best players in the men’s and women’s categories.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or will honor players for their performances only during the 2024/25 season. Manchester City’s Rodri and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí are the defending champions.
PSG has several contenders after winning the Champions League. Mohamed Salah is also a favorite after leading Liverpool to the Premier League title. England’s Euro victory resulted in multiple nominations for its players.
New awards include the women’s Kopa Trophy and Yashin Trophy. The ceremony will also present the Gerd Müller Trophy, Club of the Year, and the Socrates Award.
Ousmane Dembélé won the 2025 Ballon d’Or after guiding Paris Saint-Germain to domestic and European triumphs. His outstanding dribbling, creativity, and goal contributions made him the standout player of the season.
Table of Contents
When and Where Is the Ballon d’Or 2025 Ceremony?
The ceremony starts on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 3 PM Eastern Time. Red carpet coverage starts an hour earlier. The ceremony takes place at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris.
For fans in India, the Ballon d’Or 2025 time in India is 12:30 AM IST. That means staying up late on Tuesday morning. The event begins at 12:30 AM IST.
Worth losing sleep over? Absolutely.
The venue holds special meaning for this award. The Theatre du Chatelet has hosted several ceremonies before. Its grand architecture matches the occasion perfectly. Paris once again becomes the center of the football universe.
The Ballon d’Or Trophy: A Golden Dream
The Ballon d’Or trophy stands as football’s ultimate individual prize. Created in 1956, this golden ball represents excellence. Winners join an elite club of legends. The trophy weighs about 12 pounds. Its gold-plated surface catches light beautifully.
Past winners read like a who’s who of football. Messi owns eight of them. Ronaldo claimed five during his career. Now, a new generation steps up to claim glory.
Who Are the 2025 Ballon d’Or Nominees?
Thirty players made the final list this year. Thirty players were nominated for the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or. The nominations dropped on August 7, 2025. Two names dominate the conversation right now.
Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal are among the favourites. Dembele’s Champions League triumph with PSG turned heads. Meanwhile, Yamal’s breakthrough season at Barcelona stunned everyone. The teenager plays with maturity beyond his years.
Other strong contenders include Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Yet neither dominated conversations like the previous years. The FIFA Club World Cup shook up the rankings significantly. Performances there changed everything for several players.
Here is the Men’s list :
- Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
- Ousmane Dembélé (France, PSG)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, PSG/Manchester City)
- Désiré Doué (France, PSG)
- Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands, Inter Milan)
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea, Borussia Dortmund)
- Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden, Sporting CP/Arsenal)
- Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG)
- Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Napoli/PSG)
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Barcelona)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina, Liverpool)
- Lautaro Martínez (Argentina, Inter Milan)
- Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid)
- Scott McTominay (Scotland, Manchester United/Napoli)
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal, PSG)
- João Neves (Portugal, PSG)
- Michael Olise (France, Crystal Palace/Bayern Munich)
- Cole Palmer (England, Chelsea)
- Pedri (Spain, Barcelona)
- Raphinha (Brazil, Barcelona)
- Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
- Fabián Ruiz (Spain, PSG)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
- Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands, Liverpool)
- Vinícius Júnior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
- Vitinha (Portugal, PSG)
- Florian Wirtz (Germany, Bayer Leverkusen/Liverpool)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Here is the Women’s list:
- Sandy Baltimore (France, Chelsea)
- Barbra Banda (Zambia, Orlando Pride)
- Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona)
- Klara Bühl (Germany, Bayern Munich)
- Mariona Caldentey (Spain, Arsenal)
- Sofia Cantore (Italy, Juventus/Washington Spirit)
- Steph Catley (Australia, Arsenal)
- Temwa Chawinga (Malawi, Kansas City Current)
- Melchie Dumornay (Haiti, Lyon)
- Emily Fox (United States, Arsenal)
- Cristiana Girelli (Italy, Juventus)
- Esther González (Spain, Gotham FC)
- Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona)
- Patri Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
- Amanda Gutierres (Brazil, Palmeiras)
- Hannah Hampton (England, Chelsea)
- Pernille Harder (Denmark, Bayern Munich)
- Lindsey Horan (United States, Lyon)
- Chloe Kelly (England, Manchester City/Arsenal)
- Frida Maanum (Norway, Arsenal)
- Clara Matéo (France, Paris FC)
- Marta (Brazil, Orlando Pride)
- Ewa Pajor (Poland, Wolfsburg/Barcelona)
- Claudia Pina (Spain, Barcelona)
- Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona)
- Alessia Russo (England, Arsenal)
- Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Sweden, Chelsea)
- Lucy Bronze (England, Chelsea)
- Caroline Weir (Scotland, Real Madrid)
- Leah Williamson (England, Arsenal)
Top Favorites for Ballon d’Or 2025 Winner
PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé is the favourite to win the prestigious men’s Ballon d’Or. His PSG campaign was nothing short of sensational. He led them to Champions League glory. His pace and skill terrorized defenses all season.
Lamine Yamal presents the hardest challenge. Barcelona’s wonderkid broke records left and right. At just 18, he could become the youngest winner ever. His La Liga performances were simply breathtaking.
The battle between experience and youth captivates fans worldwide. Dembele brings proven success at the highest level. Yamal offers excitement and the future of football.
Ballon d’Or 2025 Rankings and Predictions
Current power rankings shift daily as the ceremony approaches. The race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or award is heating up with Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele among the front-runners. Raphinha emerged as a dark horse candidate. His consistency at Barcelona impressed voters.
The top 10 looks completely different from last year. No Messi or Ronaldo for the first time since 2003. It opens doors to new champions. Football enters a new era tonight.
Rankings consider multiple factors now. Team success matters more than ever. Individual brilliance alone won’t win you the trophy. Players need trophies and memorable moments.
Complete Schedule and Timing Details
The Ballon d’Or 2025 date and time vary by location. Here’s the breakdown:
- Paris: 9 PM local time
- London: 8 PM BST
- New York: 3 PM EST
- Los Angeles: 12 PM PST
- Mumbai: 12:30 AM IST (Tuesday)
The ceremony runs approximately three hours. Multiple awards are presented throughout. Women’s Ballon d’Or happens the same night. Young player awards follow too.
Where to Watch Ballon d’Or 2025
Golazo Network will begin with red carpet coverage at 2 PM ET, followed by the ceremony at 3 PM ET.
- India: Sony Sports Network has been the exclusive broadcaster, with live streaming available on the SonyLIV app and website.
- USA: CBS Sports and Paramount+ have held broadcasting rights in previous years. You can watch the event on the CBS Sports Golazo Network.
- Europe: In Europe, fans can watch the ceremony on the official L’Équipe TV channel or YouTube channel. DAZN has also carried coverage in some regions.
Latest Ballon d’Or 2025 News and Updates
Drama surrounds this year’s ceremony already. Several players pulled out of attending. Schedule conflicts with league matches caused issues.
The voting process changed slightly this year. This year’s award is the fourth in a new format that tracks performance by season, not calendar year, covering August 2024 to July 2025. This creates fairer comparisons between players.
Surprise inclusions sparked debate among fans. Some big names missed the cut entirely. The list reflects football’s changing landscape perfectly.
Historical Context and Past Ballon d’Or Winners
Understanding history adds weight to tonight’s ceremony. Legends defined this award through the decades. From Di Stefano to Messi, excellence remained constant.
The 2024 winner, Rodri, broke a long streak. He ended the Messi-Ronaldo dominance finally. Tonight continues that new chapter forward.
European players dominated the early decades completely. South Americans changed everything in the 1990s. Now, global talent competes equally.
What Makes This Year Special?
The 2025 edition breaks several traditions. Young players dominate nominations like never before. Established stars face hungry challengers everywhere.
Team achievements matter more than individual stats. The Champions League winner usually gets preference. However, La Liga’s dominance complicates the voting process.
Fan engagement reaches new heights this year. Social media campaigns support various candidates. The ceremony feels more interactive than ever.
Behind the Voting Process
Journalists from around the world vote. Each country gets one representative. They rank their top five players. Points determine the final winner.
Criteria include individual performance and team success. Fair play and career achievement are also factors. The process stays transparent throughout.
Controversy always surrounds close decisions. Leaked votes create drama beforehand. Official results remain secret until the announcement.
Impact on Football’s Future
Tonight’s winner influences football’s direction. Young winners inspire next generations. Veterans winning rewards, loyalty, and consistency.
Marketing deals follow Ballon d’Or success. Winners become global ambassadors instantly. Their influence extends beyond the pitch.
The award shapes transfer markets, too. Winners command higher fees immediately. Clubs chase Ballon d’Or talent aggressively.
Last Words
As the ceremony time approaches, excitement builds everywhere. The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner joins an immortal company. Their name enters football folklore forever.
Dembele appears to be the slight favorite currently. But surprises happen every year. Yamal could steal hearts and votes. Other candidates lurk with outside chances.
Whatever happens, football wins tonight. New stars emerge from old shadows. The Ballon d’Or 2025 celebrates football’s endless capacity to amaze us.
Watch live to witness these remarkable historic moments. The world’s best player will be crowned soon. Don’t miss this special moment in football.
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My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.
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