Ballon d’Or Nominees 2025: Full List, Winner Ousmane Dembélé

Paris Saint-Germain’s historic treble campaign culminated in a night of French football dominance at Théâtre du Châtelet on September 22, 2025, when Ousmane Dembélé claimed his first Ballon d’Or and PSG’s nine nominees—a record for any club—dominated the shortlist, with Lamine Yamal finishing second on home soil.

Men’s Winner: Ousmane Dembélé (1st award) ·
Nominees Revealed: 7 Aug 2025 ·
Women’s Winner: Aitana Bonmatí (3rd award) ·
Runner-up Men’s: Lamine Yamal (2nd place) ·
Organizers: UEFA and France Football

The 2025 Ballon d’Or celebrated French football’s resurgence on home soil, with PSG’s dominance setting records across nominations and rankings.

Who are the candidates for the Ballon d’Or?

The men’s Ballon d’Or 2025 featured 30 nominees unveiled on August 7, 2025, starting at 11:30 BST, compiled by France Football and L’Equipe journalists with UEFA co-organizing the process. Paris Saint-Germain dominated the shortlist with nine players—a direct reflection of their historic treble-winning campaign that included the UEFA Champions League trophy.

Men’s nominees

PSG’s nine nominees included Ousmane Dembélé, Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, and Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Barcelona’s contingent featured Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Real Madrid put forward Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer representing Premier League clubs.

Women’s nominees

Aitana Bonmatí claimed her third Women’s Ballon d’Or after another standout season with Barcelona, with Vicky López finishing second among the women’s candidates.

Top 10 contenders

Based on final rankings, the top 10 featured Dembélé (1380 pts), Yamal (1059 pts), Vitinha (703 pts), Salah (657 pts), Raphinha (620 pts), Hakimi (484 pts), Mbappé (378 pts), Palmer (211 pts), with Bellingham and Declan Rice also nominated.

Who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or?

Ousmane Dembélé claimed his first Ballon d’Or with 1380 points, edging 17-year-old Lamine Yamal who finished second with 1059 points at the ceremony held at Théâtre du Châtelet. Vitinha completed the podium in third with 703 points, while PSG’s record nine nominees translated into dominant placing across the rankings.

Men’s winner: Ousmane Dembélé

Dembélé’s 1380-point margin over Yamal was decisive but close—his Champions League knockout performances and consistent Ligue 1 output convinced journalists worldwide. Luis Enrique won Coach of the Year with 118 points, ahead of Hansi Flick (44 pts), reflecting PSG’s tactical dominance under his guidance.

Women’s winner: Aitana Bonmatí

Bonmatí secured her third consecutive Women’s Ballon d’Or, cementing Barcelona’s grip on the award while Vicky López finished second among women’s nominees.

Runners-up

Lamine Yamal’s second-place finish tied him for the Kopa Trophy nomination, making him the youngest player competing across multiple award categories. Mohamed Salah (4th, 657 pts) and Raphinha (5th, 620 pts) rounded out the top five, with Kylian Mbappé finishing seventh with 378 points at Real Madrid.

When and where is the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony?

The ceremony took place September 22, 2025, at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris—a venue synonymous with elegance that matched the occasion’s gravitas.

Date and time

Nominees were announced August 7, 2025, at 11:30 BST, with the ceremony starting that evening in Paris. The 69th annual Ballon d’Or marked the fifth under UEFA’s co-organization alongside France Football.

Location

Théâtre du Châtelet hosted the ceremony, continuing tradition as one of Paris’s premier cultural venues for the awards since their UEFA partnership began.

Announcement schedule

The day unfolded with category announcements staggered throughout the evening: men’s rankings revealed last, building toward the main award.

Ballon d’Or 2025 power rankings

Going into the ceremony, Dembélé and Yamal were the clear front-runners based on Champions League performances, with Goal.com’s power rankings placing PSG’s attacking contingent ahead of Barcelona’s teenage sensation.

Top 5 nominees

Final standings showed Dembélé (1380 pts), Yamal (1059 pts), Vitinha (703 pts), Salah (657 pts), and Raphinha (620 pts) forming the top five—four of five from clubs that reached Champions League finals.

Key claimants like Dembélé and Yamal

Dembélé’s 321-point margin over Yamal reflected his consistency across Ligue 1 and the Champions League, while Yamal’s second-place finish—achieved at just 17—established him as the award’s youngest podium finisher in a decade.

PSG dominance is evident with nine players nominated, a record reflecting their treble-winning campaign.

— Footyroom sports analysis

Notably, icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been snubbed again for 2025, marking the second consecutive year without either legend on the shortlist.

— Sky Sports football coverage

How to watch the Ballon d’Or 2025?

Global audiences accessed the ceremony through UEFA’s official channels and broadcast partners, with regional streams available across Europe and North America.

Start time

The ceremony began in the evening Paris time, with the men’s award announcement typically occurring 90 minutes into the broadcast schedule.

Viewing options

UEFA’s digital platforms streamed the ceremony live, while ESPN provided coverage for US audiences and Sky Sports for UK viewers.

Ireland broadcast

Irish viewers accessed live coverage through local sports broadcast partners, with replays available on UEFA’s official YouTube channel post-ceremony.

For football fans worldwide, the 2025 ceremony confirmed what the season suggested: PSG’s treble was no fluke. Their nine nominees, dominant top-10 presence, and the coaching award to Luis Enrique made the French club the story of the night.

Related reading: Partidos de Premier League – 2025/26 Fixtures & Results

Dembélé’s leap from unranked in 2024 to first place in the 2025 Ballon dOr rankings reflects PSG’s Champions League triumph over individual feats alone.

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