Who will win the 2025 Ballon d'Or? France Football released the list of nominees on Thursday. Florian Wirtz is among them and thanks to the numerous trophies won, other German players can also hope for a chance.
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The anticipation for the 2025 Ballon d'Or is reaching fever pitch following the release of the 30-man shortlist by France Football.
The list, published on Thursday afternoon, reflects a season filled with extraordinary individual performances, historic team triumphs, and rising young talent ready to leave their mark on world football. As expected, Paris Saint-Germain dominate the nominations, with no fewer than nine players making the cut a clear reflection of the club’s incredible treble-winning campaign, which saw them lift the Champions League, Ligue 1, and the French Cup.
Among PSG’s stars, Ousmane Dembélé stands out as one of the leading contenders. His dazzling displays, especially in the Champions League knockout rounds, were instrumental in securing the title. His redemption arc in Paris, after an inconsistent spell at Barcelona, has not only reestablished him as a world-class winger but also made him a serious candidate for the Golden Ball. Alongside him, names like Achraf Hakimi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, João Neves, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia highlight the depth and talent in PSG’s squad, which has clearly impressed voters.
Barcelona also feature prominently with four players on the list. Among them is 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, whose meteoric rise has captured the imagination of fans and pundits alike. Despite his youth, Yamal is not just a symbolic nomination he’s genuinely in the race, having delivered consistently mature and explosive performances all season long. He is also a strong favorite for the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best player under 21. The Catalan club, led this season by Hansi Flick, claimed the domestic double, which helped earn nominations for veterans like Robert Lewandowski and key midfielders like Pedri and Raphinha.
From England, Liverpool’s domestic title win and strong European campaign are represented by four key players: Mohamed Salah, who is once again considered one of the frontrunners for the Ballon d'Or, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, and new signing Florian Wirtz. Wirtz, in particular, has drawn considerable attention not just for his €125 million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, but for his sensational season in the Bundesliga, where he was named Player of the Season. He is the only German on the list and, at just 22, carries the hopes of a new generation of German football.
The Premier League remains well represented, with names like Erling Haaland from Manchester City, Declan Rice and Viktor Gyökeres from Arsenal, Cole Palmer from Chelsea, and Scott McTominay from Napoli. Haaland continues to break scoring records and is always a candidate when individual awards are on the table. From the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Michael Olise are joined by Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, who finished the season as one of the league’s top scorers.
The women’s shortlist also features 30 names, with FC Barcelona once again leading the pack. Last year’s winner Aitana Bonmatí is joined by Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, Claudia Pina, Ewa Pajor, and Alexia Putellas, making up a formidable Catalan presence. England’s European Championship success is also reflected, with Lucy Bronze, Hannah Hampton, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, and Leah Williamson among the nominees. From a German perspective, Klara Bühl is the only player shortlisted, which underlines the current lack of depth in the German women’s national team when compared to past generations.
The gala in Paris will also feature several other prestigious awards, including Coach of the Year. Hansi Flick is among the nominees after leading Barcelona to the league and cup titles in his first season. However, the favorite for the award is PSG’s Luis Enrique, whose treble-winning campaign, especially the long-awaited Champions League victory, puts him in pole position. Other nominees include Antonio Conte for his work with Napoli, Enzo Maresca for leading Chelsea’s revival, and Arne Slot, who impressed with Liverpool.
In the women’s coaching category, Sarina Wiegman is nominated once again after guiding England to another European Championship win. Renee Slingers, who managed Arsenal to a Champions League triumph, is also among the leading candidates.
The Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper, sees Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger in strong contention after a stellar European Championship performance in Switzerland. She is joined by Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton, Barcelona’s Cata Coll, Arsenal’s Daphne van Domselaar, and Brighton’s Chiamaka Nnadozie. On the men’s side, last year’s winner Emiliano Martínez is nominated again alongside PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, and Inter Milan’s Yann Sommer, who continues to impress after his move from Bayern.
The Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best U-21 player, is once again one of the most hotly contested categories. Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal are joined by PSG’s Desiré Doué and João Neves. In a unique twist, Yamal, Doué, and Neves are also among the 30 Ballon d'Or nominees, meaning they could potentially walk away with two of football’s highest individual honors in one evening. While most awards are decided by a panel of international journalists, the Kopa Trophy is voted on exclusively by former Ballon d’Or winners, giving it a particularly prestigious and historic weight.
With the awards ceremony set to take place in Paris, all eyes will be on who ultimately takes home football’s highest individual honor. Whether it’s a PSG star capping off a historic season, a Premier League talisman like Salah or Wirtz shining on a new stage, or a young prodigy like Yamal making history, the 2025 Ballon d’Or promises to be one of the most competitive and intriguing editions in recent memory.
