Rodri successor chosen
© Imago
The balloon d’Or went to Ousmane Dembélé from Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain in 2025. The 28 -year -old French offensive player prevailed against the Spanish young star Lamine Yamal (18) from FC Barcelona. Dembélé succeeds Manchester City, who was awarded last year.
Dembélé personally received the award on Monday evening because because of a thigh injury, he was not able to play for his team’s ligue-1 game at Olympique Marseille at 8 p.m. (0: 1). The Parisian’s away game was supposed to take place on Sunday evening, but was postponed at short notice due to an impending storm. The visibly seized Dembélé also thanked his former clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, in his speech on the stage.
The best goalkeeper was honored with the Yachine Trophy by the Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma (26; switched from Paris to Man City), the best young player (Kopa Trophy) is Barcelonas Lamine Yamal as in the previous year. The Spaniard Luis Enrique (55) can call himself the best coach (Cruyff Trophy) after the triumph in the premier class with Paris. The capital club is also the best team of the year. Former Leverkusener Florian Wirtz (22) from FC Liverpool took 29th place. He was the only German to make it onto the final list of candidates. Harry Kane (32) from FC Bayern came 13th as the best Bundesliga professional.
The Spaniard Aitana Bonmatí from FC Barcelona received the golden ball for the women. The Englishman Hannah Hampton from Chelsea was recognized as the best goalkeeper. The German national keeper Ann-Katrin Berger from the US Club Gotham FC, who had played a strong European Championship in summer, was also nominated.
69. Ballon d’Or: Dembélé follows Rodri, Messi & Co.
The magazine “France Football” gave the Ballon d’Or to the best footballer of the past season in the Paris Théâtre du Châtelet for the 69th time. The last winners were called Rodri (2024), Lionel Messi (2023, 2021, 2019), Karim Benzema (2022), Luka Modric (2018) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2017). There were eight professionals from PSG on the shortlist, which comprises 30 finalists. The Bundesliga was represented by the Bayern duo Harry Kane and Michael Olise as well as BVB scorer Serhou Guirassy. With Florian Wirtz, whom Liverpool won from Bayer Leverkusen for 125 million euros, there was also a German. Lamine Yamal and Dembélé, who were previously honored by the TM community with the Player of the Season Award for their league, were the favorites for their league.
The former BVB professional Dembélé had moved to Paris after six years at FC Barcelona 2023 for EUR 50 million. The right wing experienced the best of his professional career over the past season – crowned with the title in the premier class. In 53 competitive games in 2024/25, the 2018 world champion contributed impressive 35 goals and 16 templates. According to two upgrades, its market value of 90 million euros is again approaching the best taxation from the beginning of 2019 (EUR 120 million).
All placements at Ballon d’Or
1st place: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)
2nd place: Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona)
3rd place: Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
4th place: Mohamed Salah (FC Liverpool)
5th place: Raphinha (FC Barcelona)
6th place: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
7th place: Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)
8th place: Cole Palmer (Chelsea FC)
9th place: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
10th place: Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
11th place: Pedri (FC Barcelona)
12th place: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)
13th place: Harry Kane (FC Bayern)
14th place: Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain)
15th place: Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting, now Arsenal)
16th place: Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
17th place: Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona)
18th place: Scott Mctominay (SSC Naples)
19th place: João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)
20th place: Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
21st place: Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
22nd place: Alexis Mac Allister (FC Liverpool)
23rd place: Jew Bellingham (Real Madrid)
24th place: Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain)
25th place: Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan)
26th place: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
27th place: Declan Rice (Arsenal FC)
28th place: Virgil van Dijk (FC Liverpool)
29th place: Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen, now FC Liverpool)
30th place: Michael Olise (FC Bayern)
Real Madrid is again missing when the balloon d’Or was awarded
The stars of Real Madrid had stayed away from the event as in the previous year – although in Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, three professionals of the Spanish World Club were nominated for the Ballon. Last year, Real’s short -term boycott had hit high waves, after which the Madrilenen had learned that it was not Vincius Junior, but City’s Rodri would be awarded the award.
This is how the balloon d’Or works
Ten “France Football” journalists decide which 30 players make it to the shortlist. When this was announced at the beginning of August, the voting window opened for 100 journalists from the 100 nations, which are highest in the FIFA world rankings.
The top 10 are chosen 100 times from the 30 specified players, whereby the respective placement of the footballer matters on the list-the higher, the better. It is trusted that all journalists choose objectively. The journalists who represent their country in the election will only be replaced if they retire or if you believe in “France Football” that there are irregularities in the election.
These criteria apply in the balloon d’Or election
Individual success: This includes goals, templates and defensive services during the past season.
Team success: The titles and tournaments won with the association or the national team play a major role.
Fair play: The behavior on and off the square as well as fairness also flow into the evaluation.
Especially because of the fair play point, the balloon d’Or 2024 may have gone to Rodri and not to Vinicius junior. Since 2009, the award has almost always been a professional from Real Madrid or Barça – the exceptions were Messi 2023, who was under contract with Inter Miami, and Man Citys Rodri.
Trophy, gala ticket for life and possible millions
The winner receives the golden ball, which is made by the Juwelier Maison Mellerio – prize money is not one of them. However, clauses in player contracts that provide a bonus payment for winning the balloon d’Or are gear. Even with top transfers, emitting clubs are happy to have a clause included, which includes a bonus if your ex-player will receive the award from the new club. As a result, the election is not uncommon for millions. In addition to fame and possible bonus payments, the winners receive a lifelong ticket for future award ceremonies.
In addition to the balloon d’Or, the Kopa trophy for the best youngster, the Yashin trophy for the best goalkeeper and the cruyff trophy for the best trainer are also awarded. An overview of the finalists below.
Yashin trophy: That was the nominees for the goalkeeper award
Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Bono (Morocco/Al-Hilal), Lucas Chevalier (France/PSG), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Real Madrid), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy/Man City), Emiliano Martínez (Argentina/Aston Villa), Jan Oblak) (Slovenia/Atlético Madrid), David Raya (Spain/Arsenal), Matz Sels (Belgium/Nottingham), Yann Sommer (Switzerland/Inter Milan)
Kopa trophy: That was the nominees for the youth price
Ayyoub Bouaddi (France/Lille), Pau Cubarsí (Spain/Barça), Désiré Doué (France/PSG), Estêvão (Brazil/Chelsea), Dean Huijsen (Spain/Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (England/Arsenal), Rodrigo Mora (Portugal/Porto), João Neves (Portugal/PSG), Lamine Yamal (Spain/Barça), Kenan Yıldız (Türkiye/Juventus)
Cruyff trophy: These were the nominees for the coaching award
Antonio Conte (Italy/Napoli), Luis Enrique (Spain/PSG), Hansi Flick (Germany/Barça), Enzo Maresca (Italy/Chelsea), Arne Slot (Netherlands/Liverpool)