Know all the 2025 Ballon d'Or nominations and our verdict

Dubai: France Football has unveiled the nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or awards, with the ceremony scheduled to take place on September 22 in Paris. The awards are given for the outstanding performances from the 2024-25 season (1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025).

The 30-man shortlist features several standout performers, with Paris Saint-Germain leading the way following their historic Champions League triumph:

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

The women's shortlist features 30 nominees representing the best of women's football:

Lucy Bronze (Chelsea/England), Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride/Zambia), Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona/Spain), Sandy Baltimore (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal/Spain), Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich/Germany), Sofia Cantore (Juventus/Italy), Steph Catley (Arsenal/Australia), Melchie Dumornay (Lyon/Haiti), Temwa Chawinga (Lyon/Malawi), Emily Fox (Arsenal/USA), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus/Italy), Esther Gonzalez (Real Madrid/Spain), Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona/Norway), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea/England), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona/Spain), Amanda Gutierres (Palmeiras/Brazil), Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich/Denmark), Lindsey Heaps (Orlando Pride/USA), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City/England), Marta (Orlando Pride/Brazil), Frida Maanum (Arsenal/Norway), Ewa Pajor (Barcelona/Poland), Clara Mateo (Real Madrid/France), Alessia Russo (Arsenal/England), Claudia Pina (Barcelona/Spain), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/Spain), Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea/Sweden), Caroline Weir (Real Madrid/Scotland), Leah Williamson (Arsenal/England)

Alisson Becker (Liverpool/Brazil), Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal/Morocco), Lucas Chevalier (Lille/France), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid/Belgium), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain/Italy), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/Argentina), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid/Slovenia), David Raya (Arsenal/Spain), Matz Sels (Strasbourg/Belgium), Yann Sommer (Inter Milan/Switzerland)

Antonio Conte (Napoli/Italy), Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain/Spain), Hansi Flick (Barcelona/Germany), Enzo Maresca (Chelsea/Italy), Arne Slot (Liverpool/Netherlands)

FC Barcelona (Spain), Botafogo (Brazil), Chelsea (England), Liverpool (England), Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Arsenal (England), FC Barcelona (Spain), Chelsea (England), OL Lyonnais (France), Orlando Pride (USA)

Gulf News verdict: In the men's category, PSG are favourites to sweep all the awards. Paris Saint-Germain's historic Champions League victory and treble win have resulted in multiple nominations across categories. Luis Enrique is the favourite to win the coach award, Donnarumma will mostly win the Yashin Trophy, PSG to win best team, and Dembele to win the Ballon d'Or. Remember, it's a historic season for French football, and this award is given by the French.