On September 22, 2025, the 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, organized by France Football and UEFA. This gala will honor the best performances of the 2024-25 season: for men, from August 1, 2024, to July 13, 2025 (including the Club World Cup final), and for women, until the end of the Women’s Copa América.

This edition is especially significant because, for the first time, all award categories are equal for men and women. The prizes include: Ballon d’Or (best male and female player), Kopa Trophy (best young male and female player), Yashin Trophy (best male and female goalkeeper), Gerd Müller Trophy (top male and female scorer), Johan Cruyff Trophy (best male and female coach), Club of the Year (men’s and women’s teams), and the Socrates Award, which honors humanitarian and social actions within football.

Among the main candidates for the men’s Ballon d’Or are Ousmane Dembélé, a favorite after his triumphant season with PSG, Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal, and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, known for his consistent brilliance. On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmatí is aiming for her third consecutive award, with strong competition from players like Alessia Russo, Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze, and Chloe Kelly. In the other awards, Gianluigi Donnarumma is seen as a top contender for the Yashin Trophy, while Lamine Yamal also stands out in the Kopa category, alongside several young female talents fighting for recognition.

Tonight’s ceremony will not only crown the best players of the year but also open a new chapter in football history. With Rodri Hernández stepping down from the throne, all eyes will be on Paris to see who will inherit the prestigious award and have their name written among the legends of the beautiful game.