Ballon d’Or 2025: PSG’s Ousmane Dembele Favourite as Lionesses Dominate Women’s Awards
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- 22.09.2025
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Ousmane Dembele Leads the Race for Ballon d’Or 2025
Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele is the bookmakers’ clear favourite to win his first
Ballon d’Or at the prestigious awards ceremony in Paris. The 28-year-old had a stellar 2024/25 season,
delivering 43 goal contributions in 44 Ligue 1 and Champions League games as PSG secured a
historic treble — Ligue 1, Champions League, and Coupe de France.
Despite PSG’s rearranged Ligue 1 game against Marseille, Dembele is expected to attend the ceremony as he is
currently sidelined with an injury. However, the rest of the PSG squad and staff will miss the event due to the
rescheduled fixture caused by severe weather in southern France.
Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is regarded as Dembele’s main competition. The
18-year-old registered an impressive 18 goals and 25 assists last season,
spearheading Barca’s domestic double triumph in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey.
The Premier League’s best chance at this year’s award comes from Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool
star was last season’s top scorer with 29 goals and also led the assists chart with
18 assists as Liverpool claimed the Premier League title.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, continue their boycott of the ceremony for a second consecutive year. Yet,
three of their key players — Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe — are nominated.
Mbappe has openly backed Dembele to win, telling Telefoot:
“If it were up to me, I’d deliver it to his house.”
PSG and Barcelona Dominate the Shortlist
PSG’s treble-winning squad has nine players nominated, including Portugal’s Nations League-winning
trio of Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, and Joao Neves. Meanwhile, Barcelona boasts nominees like
Pedri, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and of course, Yamal — representing Barca’s best chance to
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FULL LIST: Every Ballon d’Or winner in history
Some Barcelona players, such as Pedri and Lewandowski, are reportedly not attending the ceremony, believing their
chances of winning are slim despite the club’s strong showing.
British and Premier League Representation
Five British players have made the shortlist: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Harry Kane,
and Scott McTominay. The latter, who helped Napoli win the Serie A title in his debut season,
scored 12 goals and 6 assists, earning the Serie A Player of the Year award. McTominay is the first
Scot nominated since Ally McCoist in 1987 and could become only the second Scot to win the award after Denis Law in 1964.
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Lionesses Lead the Pack
Following their Euro 2025 triumph, five of England’s Lionesses are nominated for
the Women’s Ballon d’Or. Arsenal captain Leah Williamson, shoot-out hero
Chloe Kelly, and final goalscorer Alessia Russo headline the seven Arsenal
nominees.
Chelsea stars Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton are also in contention. Hampton’s
penalty shoot-out heroics in the Euros final could see her claim the Women’s Yashin Award for
best goalkeeper.
Other WSL hopefuls include Chelsea’s Sandy Baltimore and Arsenal’s
Mariona Caldentey, the reigning WSL Player of the Year.
Aitana Bonmati and Wiegman Eye More Silverware
Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati, Euro 2025 Player of the Tournament, aims to
capture the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third consecutive year.
England manager Sarina Wiegman is a leading contender for the Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy
for best coach after guiding the Lionesses to their third straight European Championship victory. Her tactical
substitutions were crucial to England’s first tournament win on foreign soil in Switzerland.
Wiegman faces competition from Arsenal’s Renee Slegers, who led the club to their second-ever
Champions League, and Chelsea’s Sonia Bompastor, who claimed a domestic treble in her debut season.
PSG’s Luis Enrique is expected to win the men’s coaching award after achieving his second career treble.
Young Talent Awards: Kopa Trophy and More
Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly is nominated for the Men’s Kopa Trophy, awarded
to the best player under 21. He faces competition from PSG’s Desire Doue and Joao Neves,
as well as last year’s winner Lamine Yamal.
In the women’s category, Euro 2025 Young Player of the Tournament Michelle Agyemang could add another
honour to her collection.
Men’s Yashin Trophy Nominees
The Men’s Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper, includes two-time winner
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City),
Alisson Becker (Liverpool), David Raya (Arsenal), and
Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest).
