The race for the Ballon d’Or 2025 is officially underway, with UEFA unveiling the 30-man shortlist for football’s most prestigious individual honor. For the second consecutive year, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — the two players who have dominated the award for over a decade — are absent from the nominees list.
Messi remains the most decorated winner with eight Ballon d’Or titles, while Ronaldo has five to his name. But as the new generation continues to shine, the question is clear: Will 2025 crown a new Ballon d’Or winner, just as 2024 did?
UEFA Ballon d’Or 2025 Nominees
The 30 players come from across Europe’s elite clubs, featuring a mix of strikers, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers. Among the headline names are Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), and Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).
Notably, Paris Saint-Germain dominate the shortlist with multiple nominees including Ousmane Dembélé, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Désiré Doué, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, and Vitinha. Rising stars like Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and Cole Palmer (Chelsea) also make the cut.
Editor’s Top 5 Ballon d’Or 2025 Contenders
1. Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)
Few players enjoyed a more spectacular campaign than Ousmane Dembélé. At just 22, the French forward delivered a quadruple-winning season with PSG, scoring 33 goals in 43 appearances. His 21 Ligue 1 goals made him the league’s top scorer, while his Champions League heroics included strikes against English heavyweights Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal.
Backed by 813 successful passes, 42 completed dribbles, and an 83.2% passing accuracy, Dembélé’s all-around brilliance makes him one of the strongest contenders for the Ballon d’Or 2025.
2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
The Egyptian icon continues to write history at Anfield. Mohamed Salah not only became the first player to win the PFA Player of the Year award three times, but also played a central role in Liverpool’s 20th English league title under Arne Slot.
With 246 goals for Liverpool and four Premier League Golden Boots, Salah’s consistency and impact make him a serious candidate to finally capture his long-deserved Ballon d’Or.
3. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain / Manchester City)
Could Gianluigi Donnarumma become the first goalkeeper since Lev Yashin in 1963 to win the Ballon d’Or? The Italian shot-stopper was instrumental in PSG’s quadruple, recording 10 clean sheets and saving 87 shots with a 72% success rate.
His performances were so influential that Pep Guardiola secured his move to Manchester City, where he is expected to play a defining role in their European campaign. If the Ballon d’Or panel values defensive excellence, Donnarumma has a legitimate claim.
4. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Harry Kane continues to prove he is among the world’s most lethal strikers. The England captain scored 38 goals in 46 appearances for Bayern Munich, firing the Bavarian giants to their 36th Bundesliga title.
As the league’s top scorer and England’s record goal-getter, Kane remains one of the strongest candidates to lift the Ballon d’Or 2025, a trophy that has eluded him despite years of prolific scoring.
5. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
Now wearing the famous white of Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé wasted no time making an impact in Spain. The French superstar finished as La Liga’s top scorer with 31 goals in the 2024/25 season and remains one of the most feared forwards in world football.
Having long been touted as Messi and Ronaldo’s heir, Mbappé has all the credentials to finally win his first Ballon d’Or.
A New Era for the Ballon d’Or
With Messi and Ronaldo out of the frame, football has officially entered a new chapter. Whether it’s Dembélé’s rise at PSG, Salah’s consistency at Liverpool, Kane’s goals at Bayern, Mbappé’s brilliance at Real Madrid, or Donnarumma’s goalkeeping heroics, the Ballon d’Or 2025 promises to showcase the best of the next generation.
Fans around the world will eagerly await the Paris ceremony to see who will etch their name alongside football’s immortals.