The nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or have been announced, setting the stage for a tightly contested race for football's most coveted individual prize. The ceremony, co-organized by UEFA and Groupe Amaury, will take place on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. This year's edition promises to be particularly exciting, with several top players vying for the award.

Among the frontrunners is Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele, whose outstanding form has made him a favorite among bookmakers. Dembele's contributions were instrumental in PSG's treble-winning season, which included their first-ever Champions League title. His teammate, Lamine Yamal, the young Barcelona superstar, is also in contention and could potentially become the youngest winner of the Ballon d'Or, surpassing Ronaldo's record from 1997.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is another prominent nominee, recognized for his pivotal role in Liverpool's Premier League triumph. Despite Liverpool's early Champions League exit, Salah's impressive statistics of 34 goals and 23 assists have solidified his place among the top contenders.

Several other PSG players have also been nominated, reflecting the club's dominant performance in the Champions League. These include Désiré Doué, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nuno Mendes, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Fabián Ruiz and João Neves. Real Madrid also has a strong presence among the nominees, with Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham all in contention.

Other notable nominees include Scott McTominay, who led Napoli to the Scudetto, and players from other top European clubs such as Inter Milan (Lautaro Martínez, Denzel Dumfries), Bayern Munich (Harry Kane), and Arsenal (Viktor Gyökeres).

The absence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from the list marks a significant shift, signaling a new era in football. Last year's winner, Rodri, is unlikely to defend his crown due to an ACL injury sustained early in the 2024/25 season.

The Ballon d'Or is awarded based on players' performances throughout the season, considering goals scored, assists, clean sheets (for defensive players), trophies won, and overall form. The nominees were selected by a panel of 100 journalists from top footballing nations.

In addition to the main Ballon d'Or awards, there are several other accolades presented at the ceremony, including the Kopa Trophy (best young player), Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer), and Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach). There are also awards for the best men's and women's clubs.

The women's Ballon d'Or is also highly anticipated, with Aitana Bonmati considered a favorite despite Barcelona's loss in the Women's Champions League final. Other potential contenders include her Spain teammates Mariona Caldentey and Alexia Putellas, as well as England's Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton.