Ballon d’Or 2025: Salah, Mbappe, Yamal Among 30-Man Shortlist For Football’s Top Prize

Some of football’s biggest names have been shortlisted for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, widely regarded as the sport’s most prestigious individual honor.

Previous winners include legends like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten. Messi tops the all-time list with eight titles — three more than longtime rival Ronaldo.

In 2024, Spanish midfielder Rodri became the first Manchester City player to win the award, following a dominant season where he lifted four major trophies with club and country.

The 30-man shortlist for this year’s prize includes elite talents from clubs across Europe and beyond, with several strong contenders emerging.

2025 Ballon d’Or Nominees:

• Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona, France)
• Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG, Italy)
• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
• Desire Doue (PSG, France)
• Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan, Netherlands)
• Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund, Guinea)
• Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
• Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal, Sweden)
• Achraf Hakimi (PSG, Morocco)
• Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG, Georgia)
• Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland)
• Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, Argentina)
• Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
• Scott McTominay (Napoli, Scotland)
• Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)
• Nuno Mendes (PSG, Portugal)
• Joao Neves (PSG, Portugal)
• Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)
• Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)
• Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)
• Raphinha (Barcelona, Brazil)
• Declan Rice (Arsenal, England)
• Fabian Ruiz (PSG, Spain)
• Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
• Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil)
• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)
• Florian Wirtz (Liverpool, Germany)
• Vitinha (PSG, Portugal)
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)

Leading Contenders: PSG duo Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue are front-runners after powering the French club to a domestic league title and a Champions League crown.

Mohamed Salah also enters the race after breaking the Premier League record for most goal contributions in a season — scoring 29 goals and providing 18 assists.

Napoli’s Scott McTominay is another notable name after helping the Italian side win the Scudetto and earning Serie A Player of the Year honors. Barcelona’s 17-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal is also in the mix after a breakout campaign.

Announcement Date: The winner will be crowned on Monday, September 22, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Most Ballon d’Or Wins (All-Time):

• Lionel Messi – 8 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)
• Cristiano Ronaldo – 5 (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
• Michel Platini – 3 (1983, 1984, 1985)
• Johan Cruyff – 3 (1971, 1973, 1974)
• Marco van Basten – 3 (1988, 1989, 1992)
• Franz Beckenbauer – 2 (1972, 1976)
• Ronaldo Nazario – 2 (1997, 2002)
• Alfredo Di Stefano – 2 (1957, 1959)
• Kevin Keegan – 2 (1978, 1979)
• Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – 2 (1980, 1981)