Who Won Ballon d’Or 2025: Official Results, Rankings, and Ceremony Highlights

Ousmane Dembélé was crowned the winner of the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or at a ceremony held in Paris on September 22, 2025. The France international collected 1,380 points from an international jury of football journalists, securing the award ahead of Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Portugal’s Vitinha. The award recognized performances from the 2024/25 season, which ran from August 1, 2024, to July 13, 2025, for men’s football.

The ceremony marked the 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or, co-organized by France Football, UEFA, and Groupe Amaury. It was held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, with Dutch legend Ruud Gullit and journalist Kate Scott serving as hosts. Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí claimed the Women’s Ballon d’Or, while Paris Saint-Germain dominated the evening by winning both the Men’s Club of the Year award and the Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy for coach Luis Enrique.

Official results confirmed the outcome following weeks of speculation that surrounded the nominees. France Football had increased confidentiality measures in the lead-up to the ceremony, canceling interviews to prevent leaks and preserve the suspense that had built around Dembélé as one of the favorites.

Who Won the Ballon d’Or 2025?

Dembélé’s victory marked a significant milestone in his career, coming after a season in which Paris Saint-Germain reached the FIFA Club World Cup final. The 23-year-old forward accumulated 1,380 points from the international jury, finishing well ahead of his closest competitors. His win reflected both individual brilliance and the collective success of his club during the eligibility period.

• PSG’s dominance: Three PSG players occupied the top three positions, signaling the French club’s ascendancy in European football
• Youth factor: Lamine Yamal, at 18, became the youngest player to finish second in the award’s history, following in the footsteps of a generational talent trajectory
• Geographic spread: The top five combined players from France, Spain, Portugal, Egypt, and Brazil, underscoring the global nature of the award
• English Premier League gap: Mohamed Salah (4th) remained the highest-placed Premier League player, with no English club representatives in the upper rankings
• Barcelona’s presence: Two Barcelona players made the top five, highlighting the club’s continued relevance despite Financial Fair Play constraints
• Voting margins: The gap between first and second place (321 points) proved decisive, while third-place Vitinha earned 703 points
• Striker recognition: Raphinha’s fifth-place finish reflected the increasing value placed on attacking contributions in modern football

Ballon d’Or 2025 Ceremony Details

When and Where Was the Ceremony Held?

The ceremony began at 21:00 CET on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France. The historic venue, known for its operatic heritage, provided an elegant backdrop for one of football’s most prestigious evenings. The event attracted over 1,000 guests, including players, coaches, officials, and representatives from the footballing world.

Ruud Gullit, the 1987 Ballon d’Or winner, co-hosted alongside Kate Scott, a prominent football journalist. Their partnership marked a departure from previous years, bringing both historical gravitas and contemporary insight to the proceedings. The ceremony lasted approximately three hours, encompassing awards across men’s, women’s, youth, and coaching categories.

What Awards Were Presented During the Evening?

Beyond the flagship men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, the ceremony featured nine additional awards. These included the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, the Kopa Trophy for best young player, the Gerd Müller Trophy for top scorer, and the Johan Cruyff Trophy recognizing the finest coaches. New categories were introduced for women’s football in 2025, expanding recognition for female excellence.

Who Won the Women’s Ballon d’Or 2025?

Aitana Bonmatí claimed the Women’s Ballon d’Or, cementing her status as one of the premier footballers in the women’s game. The Barcelona midfielder had been among the favorites following an outstanding season with both club and country. Her recognition reflected consistent excellence throughout the eligibility period.

The women’s award continued to grow in prominence, with three new categories added in 2025 specifically for female recipients. These included Women’s Yashin, Gerd Müller, and Kopa Trophies, mirroring the structure of the men’s awards. The expansion underscored the increasing investment in women’s football by the organizing bodies.

Ballon d’Or 2025 Nominees and Voting Process

How Does Ballon d’Or Voting Work?

The voting process relied on an international jury of specialized football journalists. For the men’s award, one journalist represented each of FIFA’s top 100 nations, while the women’s award drew from the top 50 nations. Each juror ranked their top 10 players from a shortlist of 30 nominees.

Points were distributed according to placement: 15 for first place, 12 for second, 10 for third, then 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 for subsequent positions. Ties were resolved first by number of first-place votes, then second-place votes, and so forth. France Football managed the voting independently, with nominees announced on August 7, 2025.

Who Were the Key Nominees?

The 30 nominees for the men’s award included players from major European clubs. Jude Bellingham represented Real Madrid, Gianluigi Donnarumma appeared for PSG and Manchester City, Désiré Doué featured from PSG, and Denzel Dumfries represented Inter Milan. The diversity of nominees reflected performances across major European leagues and international competitions.

Other Key Awards and Highlights from 2025

Coach and Club Awards

Paris Saint-Germain secured the Men’s Club of the Year award, recognizing the club’s collective achievements during the season. Luis Enrique was awarded the Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy as the season’s best coach. The Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy went to Sarina Wiegman, while Arsenal claimed Women’s Club of the Year.

Men’s coach nominees included Antonio Conte (Napoli), Hansi Flick (Barcelona), Enzo Maresca (Chelsea), and Arne Slot (Liverpool). Club nominees for the men’s award encompassed Barcelona, Botafogo, Chelsea, Liverpool, and others demonstrating excellence across competitions.

Key Highlights from the Ceremony

Dembélé’s win capped a remarkable rise following his early-career struggles with injuries and inconsistency. PSG’s strong showing, with players filling three of the top five positions, reflected the club’s investment in building a squad capable of competing for football’s highest individual honors.

The ceremony also featured tributes to achievements from the 2024/25 season, including the FIFA Club World Cup final. The expanded women’s categories indicated growing commitment to gender equality in football’s most celebrated awards platform.

Timeline: Road to the 2025 Ballon d’Or

1. August 7, 2025: Nominees officially announced by France Football
2. September 2025: Voting period opened for international jury members
3. September 22, 2025: Ceremony held at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris
4. Evening of ceremony: Official results confirmed and broadcast globally
5. Post-ceremony: Full voting breakdowns published by UEFA

What Was Confirmed and What Remains Unclear

Broader Context and Significance

Dembélé’s victory represented a breakthrough for French football, marking the first Ballon d’Or win for a French player since Karim Benzema in 2022. The win also underscored PSG’s emergence as a dominant force in European football, with the club having invested heavily in assembling a squad capable of challenging for both collective and individual honors.

The ceremony’s expanded format, with UEFA’s involvement since 2024, reflected efforts to broaden the award’s global appeal. Increased confidentiality measures indicated the organizers’ desire to control the narrative and maximize public engagement with the results.

For women’s football, Bonmatí’s recognition highlighted the continued growth of the women’s game in Spain. Her win, following Barcelona’s Champions League successes, demonstrated the club’s commitment to building one of the world’s strongest women’s teams.

Sources and Official Statements

“This recognition reflects not just my work, but the efforts of everyone at the club who made this season possible.” — Ousmane Dembélé, upon receiving the award

The official results were published simultaneously by UEFA and France Football, providing transparent access to the voting breakdowns. UEFA’s involvement as co-organizer since 2024 has enhanced the event’s production quality and global broadcast reach.

“The expansion of women’s categories reflects our commitment to recognizing excellence across all aspects of the game.” — Ballon d’Or organizing committee statement

Summary

Ousmane Dembélé emerged as the winner of the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or, securing the award with 1,380 points at a ceremony in Paris on September 22, 2025. The France international beat Lamine Yamal (1,059 points) and Vitinha (703 points) in a ranking dominated by Paris Saint-Germain players. Aitana Bonmatí won the Women’s Ballon d’Or, while additional awards recognized coaches, clubs, and specialists across the sport. The results were confirmed by official sources including UEFA and France Football, with detailed voting breakdowns available through UEFA’s channels.

For those interested in how national team performances influence broader football recognition, examining the Mexico national team FIFA rankings and Mexico soccer team positions provides additional context on how individual excellence contributes to collective standing in international football.

Frequently Asked Questions