Ballon d’Or 2025 Nominees
The most disputed roster in global soccer is the yearly rundown of the game's greatest players: the Ballon d'Or. Released to much making known — and some condemnation, too — was this year's nominee list for the men's and women's version of the award. Fifteen candidates were named for the honor in men's football, with FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, as per usual, leading the pack. Also in the running: Messi's eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk. All the while, women's national team stars Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan head up the 20-deep listing for football grandees in the female version of the award.
Ballon d’Or Winners List
The Ballon d'Or for 2025 is available for the taking, and there are several well-qualified individuals who appear to be in the running. Amongst them are the luminaries Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar. But there are also some fresh faces and names that have come to the fore. Indeed, figures such as Erling Håland, Kylian Mbappé, and João Félix are right there, seemingly all contending for the title of world's best player. One can only sit back and await the conclusion of what may be a very close contest.
The Ballon D’Or Rankings
The players on the shortlist will be narrowed down until only three remain, and those three will be the ones to receive the trophy during the 66th awarding of the ceremony in October. The procedure for voting for the Ballon d'Or is carried out by 100 soccer journalists scattered all over the world. Each reporter puts forward five players, and there is a system of points given for those who are nominated.
| Nomination | Points |
| 1st nomination | 6 points |
| 2nd nomination | 4 points |
| 3rd nomination | 3 points |
| 4th nomination | 2 points |
| 5th nomination | 1 point |
The 2022 World Cup, the finals of which will be held in Qatar, fell right in the middle of the 2025 award. As is often the case, the shortlist's makeup is heavily influenced by the World Cup tournament.
Despite there being still 50% of a football season to go and all the assorted club trophies still to be won, here's a look at 15 of the early frontrunners for next year's Ballon d'Or, based on the first half of the 2022/23 season and the promises of the World Cup.
- Sofyan Amrabat
- Achraf Hakimi
- Mohamed Salah
- Luka Modric
- Antoine Griezmann
- Vinicius Junior
- Robert Lewandowski
- Emiliano Martinez
- Enzo Fernandez
- Kevin De Bruyne
- Neymar
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Erling Haaland
- Lionel Messi
- Kylian Mbappe