Ousmane Dembele, Lamine Yamal, and Mohamed Salah are among the top contenders for the 2025 men's Ballon d'Or. Dembele is considered a strong candidate
after leading Paris Saint-Germain to their inaugural Champions League victory. He is part of a 30-man shortlist that includes fellow PSG players like Gianluigi Donnarumma and Achraf Hakimi. Barcelona also has notable nominees, including Yamal, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Pedri.
Dembele's exceptional season concluded with PSG winning three domestic titles. He was pivotal in their Champions League success, providing two assists in the final—a feat last achieved by Marcelo for Real Madrid in 2018. His 14 goal involvements (eight goals, six assists) were only surpassed by Karim Benzema's 17 in the 2021-22 season. Overall, Dembele contributed to 46 goals across all competitions.
Barcelona's Yamal also had an outstanding season, scoring 18 goals and assisting 21 times under Hansi Flick. He completed more dribbles than any other player in Europe's top five leagues with a total of 244. Meanwhile, his teammate Raphinha matched Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 21 goal contributions in a single Champions League season from 2013-14.
Mohamed Salah played a crucial role in Liverpool's Premier League triumph during Arne Slot's first year as manager. Salah equaled the record for combined goals and assists in a single Premier League season with 47, matching Andrew Cole and Alan Shearer's achievements from the mid-1990s. Alongside Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister were also nominated from Liverpool's squad.
Real Madrid is represented by Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior on the shortlist. Mbappe had an impressive debut season in Madrid, breaking Ivan Zamorano's record by scoring 43 goals across all competitions. From Serie A, Napoli’s Scott McTominay stood out with his contribution to their Scudetto win under Antonio Conte.
Goalkeepers Competing for Yashin Trophy
Emiliano Martinez aims for his third consecutive Yashin Trophy after making 156 saves last season. Only Mike Maignan and Mark Flekken made more saves across Europe's top leagues. Martinez faces competition from Alisson Becker of Liverpool, Arsenal’s David Raya, and Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels—all nominated for their performances.
The women's Ballon d'Or Feminin nominations are dominated by players from England and Spain. Leah Williamson, Chloe Kelly, and Alessia Russo represent England after helping Arsenal secure another Champions League title. Spanish stars Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati are among the favourites for the award.
Young Talents Eyeing Kopa Trophy
Lamine Yamal leads the Kopa Trophy nominations following his role in Spain's European Championship victory. The award recognises the best player under 21 years old. Other promising talents include Desire Doue and Pau Cubarsi. Doue made history as the youngest player to score multiple goals in a Champions League final at just under 20 years old.
The Ballon d'Or nominations highlight remarkable performances across various leagues last season. Players like Dembele and Salah have set high standards with their contributions on the field. As anticipation builds for the awards ceremony, fans eagerly await to see who will be honoured this year.
