Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is widely tipped to beat Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and claim the men’s Ballon d’Or when football’s biggest individual prize is awarded in Paris on Monday.
Meanwhile, Spain and Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati is chasing a third straight women’s crown.
The glitzy ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet will gather the world’s football elite for an award that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated for over a decade, winning 13 times between 2008 and 2023. Last year’s winner, Manchester City’s Rodri, is not in contention this time due to an injury-hit season.
Dembele, 28, is the frontrunner after a sensational campaign in which he scored 35 goals, spearheading PSG to their first-ever Champions League title, a domestic treble, and a Club World Cup final. His transformation from winger to centre-forward filled the void left by Kylian Mbappe’s departure. “I think it’s true that I am one of the favourites, but we will see what happens,” Dembele told Le Monde.
Barcelona’s 18-year-old Yamal, who scored 18 goals in 55 appearances last season, remains a strong contender. Already a European champion with Spain, he is seen as Messi’s heir at Camp Nou and has made no secret of his ambition: “I don’t dream of winning one Ballon d’Or, I dream of winning lots.”
Nine PSG players feature among the 30 men’s nominees, including Achraf Hakimi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Vitinha. Other high-profile contenders include Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior.
In the women’s category, Bonmati, 27, remains the standout despite Barcelona’s Champions League final defeat to Arsenal and Spain’s Euro final loss to England. She was named player of the tournament at Euro 2024 and is competing against teammates Alexia Putellas and several English Lionesses, including Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, and Leah Williamson.
The winners will be chosen by a panel of journalists, one from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations for the men’s award and from the top 50 for the women’s prize.
What you should know
The 2025 Ballon d’Or race highlights a generational shift, with PSG’s Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal battling for football’s biggest individual honour. Aitana Bonmati is chasing history with a third consecutive women’s prize.
The results will showcase whether football’s future belongs to emerging stars or experienced campaigners at their peak.
