The organisers of the prestigious Ballon d’Or have officially released the 30-man shortlist for the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or award, spotlighting the most outstanding footballers across the globe for their performances over the past year.
Unveiled on Thursday, the list features a mix of established superstars and emerging talents who have made a significant impact for club and country. Leading the charge are Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr., and Harry Kane all of whom delivered exceptional seasons on both domestic and international stages.
Veteran players like Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski, and Virgil van Dijk also made the cut, reaffirming their continued relevance in the global game.
Rising stars such as Lamine Yamal, Joao Neves, and Cole Palmer are among the fresh faces earning their first Ballon d’Or nominations, underscoring the generational shift taking place in world football.
Other notable nominees include Alexis Mac Allister, Désiré Doué, Scott McTominay, Raphinha, Florian Wirtz, Declan Rice, Achraf Hakimi, and Pedri.
Regarded as football’s most prestigious individual accolade, the Ballon d’Or honours players who have demonstrated extraordinary skill, consistency, and influence in the sport. The winner will be crowned at the annual Ballon d’Or gala later this year.
Full List of 2025 Ballon d’Or Men’s Nominees:
- Jude Bellingham
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Désiré Doué
- Denzel Dumfries
- Serhou Guirassy
- Viktor Gyökeres
- Erling Haaland
- Achraf Hakimi
- Harry Kane
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Robert Lewandowski
- Alexis Mac Allister
- Lautaro Martinez
- Kylian Mbappé
- Scott McTominay
- Nuno Mendes
- Joao Neves
- Michael Olise
- Cole Palmer
- Pedri
- Raphinha
- Declan Rice
- Fabian Ruiz
- Mohamed Salah
- Virgil van Dijk
- Vinicius Jr.
- Vitinha
- Florian Wirtz
- Lamine Yamal
