For the second consecutive year, the Ballon d’Or will crown a new winner in 2025, after reigning champion Rodri failed to make the 30-man shortlist announced on Thursday — a list heavily dominated by Paris Saint-Germain.
Rodri, who lifted the 2024 award last October, had his season cut short by a knee ligament injury. Notably, neither eight-time winner Lionel Messi, absent since his 2023 triumph, nor five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo made the cut.
PSG, fresh from a dominant Champions League victory, lead the nominees with nine players. Barcelona, winners of a league and cup double, boast four selections, including the youngest nominee, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, and the oldest, 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski.
Real Madrid, who boycotted last year’s gala in protest over Rodri’s win ahead of Vinicius Jr., return with three nominees, including the Brazilian forward. Serie A champions Napoli are represented by Scott McTominay — the first Scot shortlisted since Ally McCoist in 1987. A win would make him the first Napoli player to claim the honour and only the second Scot after Denis Law in 1964.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on September 22.
Full list of nominees:
1. Ousmane Dembele (FRA/PSG)
2. Gianluigi Donnarumma (ITA/PSG)
3. Jude Bellingham (ENG/Real Madrid)
4. Desire Doue (FRA/PSG)
5. Denzel Dumfries (NED/Inter Milan)
6. Serhou Guirassy (GUI/Dortmund)
7. Erling Haaland (NOR/Manchester City)
8. Viktor Gyokeres (SWE/Arsenal)
9. Achraf Hakimi (MAR/PSG)
10. Harry Kane (ENG/Bayern)
11. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (GEO/PSG)
12. Robert Lewandowski (POL/Barcelona)
13. Alexis Mac Allister (ARG/Liverpool)
14. Lautaro Martinez (ARG/Inter Milan)
15. Scott McTominay (SCO/Napoli)
16. Kylian Mbappe (FRA/Real Madrid)
17. Nuno Mendes (POR/PSG)
18. Joao Neves (POR/PSG)
19. Pedri (ESP/Barcelona)
20. Cole Palmer (ENG/Chelsea)
21. Michael Olise (FRA/Bayern)
22. Raphinha (BRA/Barcelona)
23. Declan Rice (ENG/Arsenal)
24. Fabian Ruiz (SCO/PSG)
25. Virgil van Dijk (NED/Liverpool)
26. Vinicius Jr. (BRA/Real Madrid)
27. Mohamed Salah (EGY/Liverpool)
28. Florian Wirtz (GER/Liverpool)
29. Vitinha (POR/PSG)
30. Lamine Yamal (ESP/Barcelona)