Paris, September 2025 — The world of football is holding its breath. Every season produces stars, but only one player can lift the Ballon d’Or, the golden globe that crowns excellence, consistency, and influence. As we approach the 2025 ceremony, the landscape is crowded with contenders, each bringing a unique story, statistics that dazzle, and expectations that weigh heavily.
Legends Past & Present: Where 2025 Fits in the Hall of Fame
The Ballon d’Or has been awarded since 1956. Over those decades, it has become the ultimate individual honour in men’s football, recognising not just goals, but artistry, leadership, and the intangible impact a player has on both their team and the game globally.
Lionel Messi holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or wins. Cristiano Ronaldo follows with five. These two have set the standard in recent years, which means any new winner must not only perform brilliantly but also distinguish themselves among giants. Past winners include legends like Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini—each dominating in different eras, each defining excellence in their own way.
The 2024-25 Season: Who’s Pushed the Bar
In 2025, one name being repeatedly mentioned is Ousmane Dembélé. He impressively combined goal-scoring with playmaking and helped Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) win multiple trophies. One report claims 35 goals and 16 assists in all competitions. Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal, young but hugely influential, has also been lauded, scoring and assisting at rates that make him a frontrunner.
Other contenders include Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé. The competition is tight — sometimes the difference will come down to moments rather than season-long dominance. PSG has nine players nominated. That alone shows how strong their squad has been.
Beyond Goals: The Subtle Metrics
One thing that sets this year apart is the emphasis on broader performance metrics. Average match ratings are being considered seriously. In recent rankings of all 30 nominees (2024-25 season), Lamine Yamal stands out with a very high average rating.
Others like Dembele, Raphinha also rate highly, placing them among the elite by these statistical measures. These ratings help give context—for example, not just that someone scored many goals, but how consistent they were, how much they contributed in big matches, etc.
Stakes for Milestones & Legacies
For Dembélé, the awards of this season could redefine his career. Though he has been an elite talent for years, a Ballon d’Or would place him in a different tier permanently. For Yamal, it could mark him as one of the youngest winners ever, a symbolic passing of the torch. Other players see this as their chance to reclaim or reinforce legacy—Salah, Mbappé, among them.
Then there are stories beyond just the winner: the Kopa Trophy (best U-21), the Yashin Trophy (goalkeeper), and the women’s equivalent awards are all part of the evening. Players competing for those have their own narratives—rising stars, breakthrough seasons, and in many cases, turning points.
Drama Off the Pitch
Every Ballon d’Or season brings not just on-field drama but off-field intrigue. This year is no different. There are rumours of leaks—one report suggests that the winner (for the men’s award) has already been “leaked” in the hours before the show. Whether true or not, it adds tension. There’s also the issue that many PSG players may miss the ceremony because of a rescheduled match—their club match conflicts with the gala evening.
Possible Surprises & Outsiders
Even with heavy favourites, there’s always room for surprises. Someone from outside the leading pack could break in if they had standout performances in major tournaments, or in Champions League knockout stages. Sometimes the story is not about winning everything, but making a huge difference in critical moments.
The Ceremony & What It Means
Today September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the Ballon d’Or will be awarded. But for players, it’s more than a trophy—it’s recognition. It’s becoming part of history. The winner’s name goes into the long list with Stanley Matthews, Lev Yashin, Cruyff, Platini, Messi, Ronaldo, and others. And for fans, it’s always a moment of debate: who deserved it, who was robbed, who’s next.