The football world braces for another seismic shift as the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominations unveiled today promise a coronation unlike any in recent memory. For the second consecutive year, the golden trophy will crown a new monarch—defending champion Rodri, whose campaign was tragically cut short by a knee ligament injury, finds himself shockingly absent from the 30-man shortlist. The Manchester City midfielder’s abrupt fall from grace underscores the ruthless nature of football’s most coveted individual prize.
In a twist that signals changing eras, two titans who once dominated these proceedings find themselves excluded entirely. Lionel Messi, the eight-time winner whose 2023 triumph seemed to defy time itself, and Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time champion who rewrote the award’s history, both fade from contention—their absence marking the definitive end of an epoch.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League conquest echoes loudly through the nominations, with the French giants securing an unprecedented nine spots on the list. Their continental dominance has birthed a new generation of contenders, though which will emerge victorious remains tantalizingly unclear.
Barcelona’s domestic double earns them four nominations, showcasing the club’s blend of youth and experience. At one end, 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal represents football’s exciting future; at the other, 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski proves class remains permanent. This striking contrast embodies the award’s unique ability to transcend generations.
Real Madrid, still simmering from last year’s boycott after Vinicius Junior’s controversial snub, return with three nominees—including the Brazilian winger himself. Their presence adds spice to proceedings, with the Santiago Bernabéu faithful hoping for vindication.
The romantic subplot belongs to Napoli’s Scott McTominay, whose Serie A triumph earns him a historic nomination—the first Scot in nearly four decades to grace the list since Ally McCoist in 1987. Should he prevail, the Manchester United academy product would etch his name alongside Denis Law as only the second Scottish winner, while becoming the first Napoli player to claim the honor since the legendary Maradona era.
As the football world dissects this eclectic mix of established stars and emerging talents, one truth becomes clear: when the winner is unveiled on September 22 at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, we will witness not just the crowning of an individual, but the dawn of football’s next defining chapter.
FULL LIST
1. Ousmane Dembele (FRA/PSG)
2. Gianluigi Donnarumma (ITA/PSG)
3. Jude Bellingham (ENG/Real Madrid)
4. Desire Doue (FRA/PSG)
5. Denzel Dumfries (NED/Inter Milan)
6. Serhou Guirassy (GUI/Dortmund)
7. Erling Haaland (NOR/Manchester City)
8. Viktor Gyokeres (SWE/Arsenal)
9. Achraf Hakimi (MAR/PSG)
10. Harry Kane (ENG/Bayern)
11. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (GEO/PSG)
12. Robert Lewandowski (POL/Barcelona)
13. Alexis Mac Allister (ARG/Liverpool)
14. Lautaro Martinez (ARG/Inter Milan)
15. Scott McTominay (SCO/Naples)
16. Kylian Mbappe (FRA/Real Madrid)
17. Nuno Mendes (POR/PSG)
18. Joao Neves (POR/PSG)
19. Pedri (ESP/Barcelona)
20. Cole Palmer (ENG/Chelsea)
21. Michael Olise (FRA/Bayern)
22. Raphinha (BRA/Barcelona)
23. Declan Rice (ENG/Arsenal)
24. Fabian Ruiz (SCO/PSG)
25. Virgil van Dijk (NED/Liverpool)
26. Vinicius (BRA/Real Madrid)
27. Mohamed Salah (EGY/Liverpool)
28. Florian Wirtz (GER/Liverpool)
29. Vitinha (POR/PSG),
30. Lamine Yamal (ESP/Barcelona).
