The race for football’s most prestigious individual prize has officially begun.
Organizers of the Ballon d’Or, France Football, on Thursday unveiled the shortlist of nominees for the 2025 award, spotlighting the world’s most outstanding players over the past season.
As expected, the list features a dazzling mix of seasoned superstars and breakout talents:
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal)
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
According to early buzz, the award is shaping up to be a tight battle among Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé, and Kylian Mbappé.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place at the historic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on September 22.