By Gariba Raubil,Samuel Obour
Copyright yen
The stage is set for one of football’s most glamorous nights, with the world eagerly awaiting to see who wins the 2025 Ballon d’OrA star-studded shortlist featuring some of the game’s brightest talents has created one of the most fiercely contested races in recent memoryReports and insider tips have already sent fans into overdrive, fueling speculation over which superstar will take home the honour
The football world is buzzing with excitement as the countdown begins for the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, which will take place on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the historic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
The prestigious award, organized by France Football, will once again celebrate the best players in world football over the past season, and this year’s nominee list has sparked plenty of debate among fans and pundits.
Who are the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees?
Among the 30 men’s nominees, some of the biggest names in the game stand out, such as Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona.
Erling Haaland, who recently smashed the record to become the fastest player to score 50 Champions League goals, is also on the list.
Real Madrid trio Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jnr also feature among the 30-man nomination list.
Other nominees include Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), who continues to deliver consistently at the highest level and Harry Kane of Bayern Munich.
The Ballon d’Or, of course, is not just about statistics but also about influence, leadership, and defining moments across the season.
With Messi, now at Inter Miamai, and Ronaldo of Al-Nassr no longer the dominant figures in the race, a new generation of stars are stepping into the spotlight.
Check out the full 2025 Ballon d’Or nomination list below.
The 30-man list includes Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, VinÃcius Júnior, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane, Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha.
Others are Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Højlund, Jamal Musiala, Rafael Leão, Lautaro MartÃnez, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Antoine Griezmann, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen, Luka Modrić, Rodri, Federico Valverde, and Alphonso Davies.
Who will win the 2025 Ballon d’Or?
According to football news account MatchdayHQ on X (with more than 67K followers), Ousmane Dembele has reportedly been informed that he is the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
According to Transfermarkt, the ex-Borussia Dortmund winger netted 35 goals and provided 16 assists to help Paris Saint-Germain clinch a historic treble last season.
While France Football has yet to officially confirm the news ahead of the ceremony in Paris, the report has already set social media alight.
Meanwhile, another reputable outlet, GiveMeSport, has also tipped Dembele as the likely winner, further fueling speculation that the PSG star could indeed be crowned at the Théâtre du Châtelet later this month.
2025 Ballon d’Or power rankings
In an earlier report, YEN.com.gh highlighted the most recent Ballon d’Or power rankings, offering a closer look at how leading contenders like Dembele, Yamal, and Vitinha are shaping the race.
The update provided fans with insight into the shifting momentum ahead of the September 22 ceremony, as each player’s form and influence continue to redefine the narrative in this year’s fiercely competitive battle for football’s most prestigious individual prize.
Source: YEN.com.gh
