Ballon d'Or 2025 Nominees: Mbappe, Yamal, Salah, top contenders in 30-member list but no sign of Ronaldo and Messi

The nominees for the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or 2025 have been announced, along with the candidates for several other coveted accolades rendered every year to the finest football performances of the year from the world stage. The 2024-25 season witnessed stellar performances being delivered from different leagues of the world. However, it is the top five European leagues that dominate the proceedings and the Ballon d’Or winner, who is considered the best footballer of the year, comes from a European league generally.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri is the current holder of the Men’s Ballon d’Or Award. Whereas, Aitana Bonmatí of Barcelona is the reigning winner of the Ballon d’Or Féminin.

Progressing to identify the next winner, here are nominees for the Ballon d’Or awards for 2025.

2025 men’s Ballon d’Or 30-man list

• Jude Bellingham- Real Madrid

• Ousmane Dembélé- Paris Saint-Germain

• Gianluigi Donnarumma- Paris Saint-Germain

• Désiré Doué- Paris Saint-Germain

• Denzel Dumfries- Inter Milan

• Serhou Guirassy- Borussia Dortmund

• Erling Haaland- Manchester City

• Viktor Gyökeres- Sporting Lisbon / Arsenal

• Robert Lewandowski- Barcelona

• Achraf Hakimi- Paris Saint-Germain

• Harry Kane- Bayern Munich

• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia- Paris Saint-Germain

• Alexis Mac Allister- Liverpool

• Lautaro Martinez- Inter Milan

• Scott McTominay- Napoli

• Kylian Mbappé- Real Madrid

• João Neves- Paris Saint-Germain

• Nuno Mendes- Paris Saint-Germain

• Michael Olise- Bayern Munich

• Cole Palmer- Chelsea

• Pedri- Barcelona

• Fabián Ruiz- Paris Saint-Germain

• Declan Rice- Arsenal

• Raphinha- Barcelona

• Mohamed Salah- Liverpool

• Vinícius Júnior- Real Madrid

• Virgil van Dijk- Liverpool

• Vitinha- Paris Saint-Germain

• Florian Wirtz- Bayer Leverkusen / Liverpool

• Lamine Yamal- Barcelona

Women’s Ballon d’Or 2025 Nominees

• Sandy Baltimore- Chelsea

• Barbra Banda- Orlando Pride

• Aitana Bonmatí- Barcelona

• Lucy Bronze- Chelsea

• Klara Bühl- Bayern Munich

• Mariona Caldentey- Arsenal

• Sofia Cantore- Washington Spirit

• Steph Catley- Arsenal

• Temwa Chawinga- Kansas City Current

• Melchie Dumornay - Olympique Lyon

• Emily Fox- Arsenal

• Cristina Girelli- Juventus

• Esther González- NY/NJ Gotham FC

• Caroline Graham Hansen- Barcelona

• Hannah Hampton- Chelsea

• Pernille Harder- Bayern Munich

• Patri Guijarro- Barcelona

• Amanda Gutierres- Palmeiras

• Lindsey Heaps- Olympique Lyon

• Chloe Kelly- Manchester City / Arsenal

• Frida Leonhardsen- Maanum Arsenal

• Marta- Orlando Pride

• Clara Mateo- Paris FC

• Ewa Pajor- Barcelona

• Clàudia Pina- Barcelona

• Alexia Putellas- Barcelona

• Alessia Russo- Arsenal

• Johanna Rytting Kaneryd- Chelsea

• Caroline Weir- Real Madrid

• Leah Williamson- Arsenal

Coaches in contention for best coach award

Here are the five nominees for the Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy, awarded to the best men’s coach:

• Antonio Conte (Napoli)

• Luis Enrique (PSG)

• Hansi Flick (FC Barcelona)

• Enzo Maresca (Chelsea)

• Arne Slot (Liverpool)

Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy nominees

Here are the five nominees for the Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy, awarded to the best female coach:

• Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)

• Arthur Elias (Brazil)

• Justine Madugu (Nigeria)

• Renée Slegers (Arsenal)

• Sarina Wiegman(England)

Men’s Yashin Trophy nominees 

Here are the 10 nominees for the Men’s Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best male goalkeeper.

• Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa and Argentina)**

• Alisson Becker** (Liverpool and Brazil)

• Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal and Morocco)

• Lucas Chevalier (Lille and France)

• Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid and Belgium)

• Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG and Italy)

• Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid and Slovenia)

• David Raya (Arsenal and Spain)

• Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest and Belgium)

• Yann Sommer (Internazionale and Switzerland)

Women’s Yashin Trophy nominees 

Here are the five nominees for the Women’s Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best female goalkeeper.

• Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC and Germany)

• Cata Coll (FC Barcelona and Spain)

• Hannah Hampton** (Chelsea and England)

• Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton and Nigeria)

• Daphne van Domselaar (Arsenal and the Netherlands)

Men’s Kopa Trophy nominees

Here are the 10 nominees for the Men’s Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best male player under the age of 21.

• Pau Cubarsi (FC Barcelona and Spain)

• Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille and France)

• Désiré Doué (PSG and France)

• Estevao (Chelsea and Brazil)

• Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid and Spain)

• Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal and England)

• Rodrigo Mora (Porto and Portugal)

• João Neves (PSG and Portugal)

• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain)

• Kenan Yildiz (Juventus and Türkiye)

First awarded in 1956, the Ballon d’Or is an annual award that recognises the most outstanding men’s footballer in a season. The Ballon d’Or Féminin is handed to the best female footballer. Organised by France Football, the event also includes awards for young players, goalkeepers, coaches, and clubs.