The football world is set to turn its attention to Paris tonight as the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony takes center stage at the Théâtre du Châtelet. The event, which crowns the best male and female players from the 2024–25 season, promises drama, celebration, and perhaps a few surprises as the winners of football’s most coveted individual prizes are revealed.
Thirty nominees were announced last month for the men’s and women’s awards, sparking debates among fans, pundits, and players over who truly deserves to be named the world’s best. As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on a handful of standout performers whose individual brilliance has defined the season.
Men’s Ballon d’Or: Star-Studded Race for the Golden Prize
Among the frontrunners is Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele, whose resurgence has been nothing short of spectacular. After a mixed spell at Barcelona, the 28-year-old found his best form in Paris, delivering 35 goals and 14 assists across all competitions. His eight goals in the Champions League and two assists in the final were instrumental in PSG lifting their first-ever European crown. Dembele’s consistency also earned him the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award and a place in the league’s team of the season.
Harry Kane of Bayern Munich is another strong contender, having scored 41 goals in 51 appearances to fire Bayern to the Bundesliga title. The England captain was unstoppable at one point, scoring 10 goals in 11 days, including four in a Champions League thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb. After years of near-misses at Tottenham, Kane finally lifted the first major trophy of his career, strengthening his claim for the Ballon d’Or.
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe cannot be ruled out either. The French superstar hit 44 goals in his debut season at the Santiago Bernabéu, topping the La Liga scoring charts and producing some of the most memorable performances of the campaign, including a hat-trick against Barcelona. His exploits helped Madrid win La Liga and mount a deep Champions League run.
Barcelona are well represented on the list with Raphinha and teenager Lamine Yamal both earning nominations. Raphinha, with 34 goals and 22 assists, was instrumental in Barca’s domestic treble, including 13 goals in the Champions League. Yamal, just 18, showed maturity beyond his years with 18 goals and 21 assists, establishing himself as one of Europe’s brightest young talents.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah rounds out the list of key challengers. The Egyptian forward powered the Reds to their 20th league title with 29 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League, tying the record for most goal contributions in a 38-game season. Salah also secured his fourth Golden Boot, a feat matched only by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Barcelona and Arsenal Dominate
In the women’s category, reigning two-time winner Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona is eyeing a historic third consecutive Ballon d’Or. Despite battling illness before Euro 2025, she returned to inspire Spain to the semi-finals and continued to dominate in midfield for Barcelona, who swept the domestic treble once again.
Her teammate Alexia Putellas, herself a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, is also in the running after contributing 16 goals and 11 assists during another dominant domestic campaign. Claudia Pina, Barcelona’s versatile midfielder-forward hybrid, is also a strong candidate after topping the Champions League scoring charts and netting 24 goals in total for club and country.
Arsenal’s Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey are flying the flag for England and Spain respectively. Russo led Arsenal to the Champions League title and shared the Women’s Super League Golden Boot, while Caldentey, in her debut season in England, added creativity and cutting edge to the Gunners’ attack, even scoring in the Euro 2025 final despite Spain’s loss.
Veteran defender Lucy Bronze of Chelsea completes the shortlist of top contenders. Despite battling a fractured tibia, Bronze played a key role in England’s Euro triumph and Chelsea’s domestic treble, reminding the football world of her resilience and leadership.
With such an elite cast of players on both the men’s and women’s sides, the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony promises to be one of the most hotly contested in recent memory. Whether it’s Dembele’s redemption story, Kane’s long-awaited glory, or Bonmati’s shot at history, tonight’s winners will etch their names into football folklore and cap off a season defined by exceptional performances.
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