Football stars and global dignitaries are gathering in Paris today as the 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place at the Théâtre du Châtelet, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal leading the field of nominees.
The event, organised by France Football, honours the best footballers in the world and will also feature the presentation of the Women’s Ballon d’Or, the Kopa Trophy for best player under 21, the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, and awards for club and coach of the year.
For the men’s award, performances from August 1, 2024, to July 13, 2025, were assessed, while the women’s category covered the period ending August 2, 2025.
Dembélé’s standout campaign with PSG and Yamal’s breakthrough season at Barcelona have placed both players at the centre of global attention.
Other notable nominees include Mohamed Salah, Viktor Gyökeres, and several PSG teammates.
The women’s shortlist features leading names from Europe’s top leagues, following a season that saw increased global attention on the women’s game.
In addition to individual honours, awards will also be presented for Club of the Year and the Gerd Müller Trophy for top striker.
Nigerian Nominees
Two Nigerians were shortlisted for the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
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Chiamaka Nnadozie — Nominated for the Women’s Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper). She is the first African goalkeeper to receive a nomination in this category, following her standout performances for Paris FC and the Nigerian national team.
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Justine Madugu — Nominated for the Women’s Best Coach (Johan Cruyff Trophy), earned the recognition for leading the Super Falcons to success, including winning the WAFCON and being named Best Coach of the Tournament.
