The long-awaited Ballon d’Or ceremony, organized annually by France Football, is finally upon us, with the official announcement of the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees.
The 30 nominees include a mix of famous stars, young talents, and players who had strong seasons at clubs and international levels. Big names like Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski, and Mohamed Salah are back on the list after another great year.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham is also included after an impressive season, while newcomers like Lamine Yamal, Michael Olise, and Cole Palmer make the list for the first time.
Among the standout newcomers, Désiré Doué, Viktor Gyökeres, and João Neves have also claimed their places on the list with impressive performances and breakthrough seasons, signaling the rise of a promising new generation in world football.
Meanwhile, Scott McTominay and Declan Rice earn well-deserved nominations following influential campaigns at both club and international levels.
Complete List of Nominees:
Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembélé, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Désiré Doué, Denzel Dumfries, Serhou Guirassy, Viktor Gyökeres, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Robert Lewandowski, Alexis Mac Allister, Lautaro Martinez, Kylian Mbappé, Scott McTominay, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Michael Olise, Cole Palmer, Pedri, Raphinha, Declan Rice, Fabián Ruiz, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Vinícius Jr., Vitinha, Florian Wirtz, Lamine Yamal.
The winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or will be revealed later this year during the grand ceremony in Paris. The final decision lies in the hands of an international panel of journalists, who will evaluate each player’s individual brilliance and contributions to team success across domestic leagues, continental competitions, and international tournaments.