France Football has announced the 30 nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, the award for the world’s best football player. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) leads with nine players on the list after winning the Champions League. The ceremony will take place on September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, with stars like Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal as top contenders. The full list includes: Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembélé, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Désiré Doué, Denzel Dumfries, Serhou Guirassy, Viktor Gyökeres, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Robert Lewandowski, Alexis Mac Allister, Lautaro Martínez, Scott McTominay, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Pedri, Cole Palmer, Michael Olise, Raphinha, Declan Rice, Fabián Ruiz, Virgil van Dijk, Vinicius Jr., Florian Wirtz, Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, and Vitinha.

Ousmane Dembélé from PSG is a favorite after being named MVP of the Champions League and top scorer in Ligue 1, though his third place in the Nations League might hurt his chances. Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old Barcelona star, is also a strong candidate after a great season, helping his team win La Liga and the Copa del Rey. Other key players include Raphinha (Barcelona), who had the most goal contributions in Europe’s top leagues, and Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), who won the 2025 Golden Boot but lacks team titles.

PSG’s nine nominees—Dembélé, Donnarumma, Doué, Hakimi, Kvaratskhelia, Mendes, Neves, Ruiz, and Vitinha—show their success in the Champions League, Ligue 1, and French Cup. Barcelona has four nominees (Yamal, Raphinha, Pedri, Lewandowski), and Real Madrid has three (Bellingham, Mbappé, Vinicius Jr.). Fans are surprised by Nico Williams’ absence, while Chelsea’s Cole Palmer stands out after their Club World Cup win. The September 22 ceremony will decide who follows Rodri Hernández as the world’s best player, with focus on club performances this year.