Paris is gearing up for another Ballon d’Or showdown, and this time, there’s no clear-cut favorite with the field more unpredictable than ever – www.naijnaira.com reports.
The official list of players in the Ballon d’Or ranking 2025 drops on August 7 (today), and according to France Football—the organizing body behind the award—this year’s selection process wrapped up recently at Hotel de Crillon in Paris.
With both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo no longer in contention, the top spot is truly up for grabs.
France Football and L’Équipe have once again formed the jury, with journalists from FIFA’s top 100-ranked nations expected to vote.
Each journalist will submit a list of 10 male footballers, assigning them points that help determine the final winner.
The grand ceremony is set for September 22, 2025, and will return to its traditional venue at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Though the exact start time hasn’t been announced, fans can expect a 7 or 8 p.m. CET kick-off, aligning with previous editions.
On the shortlist of potential winners, Kylian Mbappe is back in the spotlight, joined by Mohamed Salah, Ousmane Dembélé, Raphinha, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
“Rodri shocked the world in 2024—this year, anything can happen,” said a France-based football analyst speaking on local radio.
Also in contention are PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Vitinha, both of whom delivered standout performances this past season.
Barcelona continues to dominate the conversation, with their young talents making a strong case for the spotlight.
On top of the main prize, fans should also expect updates on other honors to be awarded that same night.
These include the Kopa Trophy for standout youth talent, the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, and the Gerd Müller Trophy for top scorer.
The Johan Cruyff Trophy will be awarded to the best coach, while the Club of the Year title will recognize the most successful team over the season.
The women’s Ballon d’Or nominees won’t be named just yet due to international fixtures that extended through late July.
While the men’s list is expected to feature around 30 names, the real buzz will center around which players break into the final top 5.
Several pundits are calling this year’s competition one of the most balanced in recent memory.
Dembélé and Raphinha, in particular, are generating attention for their consistent influence at the club and international level.
The full results won’t be known until the ceremony, but speculation is already ramping up across the football world.
With so many names in the mix and no clear runaway favorite, the Ballon d’Or ranking 2025 promises a shake-up unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
