Men's Awards and Highlights
The 2025 Ballon d'Or 2025 ceremony turned heads when Paris Saint-Germain’s French winger Ousmane Dembélé lifted the coveted trophy for the first time in his career. Dembélé’s season was a blend of blistering pace, 24 league goals and a slew of decisive assists that helped PSG clinch the Ligue 1 crown and reach the Champions League semi‑finals. His rivals, especially Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, put up a fierce fight, but the voting panel ultimately tipped the scales in favor of Dembélé’s consistency across domestic and European fronts.
Yamal, aged only 18, secured the runner‑up spot and also walked away with his second Young Player award, underscoring his rapid rise. His 15 goals and 12 assists for Barcelona, coupled with standout performances in the U‑21 Euros, made him a fan favourite and a future Ballon d'Or contender.
- Ousmane Dembélé – PSG (Men’s Ballon d'Or winner)
- Lamine Yamal – Barcelona (Runner‑up, Young Player winner)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma – PSG (Goalkeeper nominee)
- Désiré Doué – PSG (Midfield nominee)
- Achraf Hakimi – PSG (Defence nominee)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – PSG (Forward nominee)
- Nuno Mendes – PSG (Defence nominee)
- João Neves – PSG (Midfield nominee)
- Fabián Ruiz – PSG (Midfield nominee)
- Vitinha – PSG (Midfield nominee)
Paris Saint‑Germain’s dominance extended beyond the individual award. The club was crowned Men’s Club of the Year, a reflection of its depth – nine players featured in the nomination pool, a record for a single club. The squad’s tactical flexibility under Luis Enrique, who collected the Men’s Coach of the Year accolade, allowed them to dominate possession against varied opposition and adapt quickly after injuries.
Enrique’s award marked his first major trophy since taking over PSG in 2022. He edged out heavyweights such as Antonio Conte (Napoli) and Hansi Flick (Barcelona) by emphasizing youth integration and a high‑pressing style that paid dividends in both Ligue 1 and Europe.
Women’s Awards and Club Accolades
On the women’s side, Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmatí made history by securing her third consecutive Ballon d'Or, a feat matched by only a handful of players in the award’s history. Bonmatí’s vision and relentless work rate helped Barcelona Femeni to a domestic double and a deep run in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, solidifying her status as the benchmark for midfield excellence.
Vicky López, also from Spain, captured the Young Women’s Player award for the first time after a breakout season with Barcelona, where she contributed five goals and eight assists from midfield. Her composure and tactical intelligence have drawn comparisons with former greats, and she is expected to be a mainstay in the senior national team soon.
- Aitana Bonmatí – Barcelona (Women’s Ballon d'Or winner)
- Mariona Caldentey – Arsenal (Nominee)
- Steph Catley – Arsenal (Nominee)
- Emily Fox – Arsenal (Nominee)
- Chloe Kelly – Arsenal (Nominee)
- Frida Maanum – Arsenal (Nominee)
- Alessia Russo – Arsenal (Nominee)
- Leah Williamson – Arsenal (Nominee)
Arsenal Women were celebrated as the Women’s Club of the Year, reflecting a season where they challenged Barcelona’s dominance domestically and reached the Champions League final. Their squad balance – blending seasoned internationals like Leah Williamson with emerging talents such as Frida Maanum – earned them praise for tactical adaptability and a high‑press system that unsettled opponents.
The ceremony also highlighted the growing global reach of football. With nominees hailing from eleven different nations across both gender categories, the awards underscored the sport’s expanding talent pool and the increasing parity between leagues. Fans worldwide took to social media, debating the merits of Dembélé’s versus Yamal’s contributions and lauding Bonmatí’s sustained brilliance.