The Ballon d’Or award ceremony takes place in Paris tonight to crown the best men’s and women’s player of the 2024/25 season.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri won the award last year in what proved a controversial night following Real Madrid and Vinicius Juniors’ decision to boycott the event.
A serious knee injury last season means Rodri is not in the running this year, however, and means a new, first-time winner of the trophy is guaranteed.
The favourite to win the trophy is Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele after the Frenchman’s goalscoring exploits helped his side win a treble last season.
Dembele would be the first Frenchman to lift the award since Karim Benzema in 2022, but he could face competition from Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal, who enjoyed a superb season, too.
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His teammate Raphinha could also be in the running, while Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is a long shot after helping fire Arne Slot’s side to the Premier League last season.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the ceremony, including the start time, location, nominees, odds and how to watch on TV in the UK.
What time does the Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony start?
The Ballon d’Or 2025 is expected to start tonight at 8pm BST.
Where is it being held?
The ceremony will be held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
How to watch on live stream in the UK
The event will not be broadcast live on TV in the UK, but the full ceremony will be broadcast live and for free on L’Equipe’s YouTube channel and website.
Kate Scott and former Chelsea and Netherlands star Ruud Gullit will present the ceremony.
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2025 nominees
- Ousmane Dembele (PSG & France)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG & Italy)*
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid & England)
- Desire Doue (PSG & France)
- Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan & Netherlands)
- Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund & Guinea)
- Erling Haaland (Man City & Norway)
- Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting/Arsenal & Sweden)
- Achraf Hakimi (PSG & Morocco)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli/PSG & Georgia)
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona & Poland)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool & Argentina)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan & Argentina)
- Scott McTominay (Napoli & Scotland)
- Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid & France)
- Nuno Mendes (PSG & Portugal)
- Joao Neves (PSG & Portugal)
- Pedri (Barcelona & Spain)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea & England)
- Michael Olise (Bayern Munich & France)
- Raphinha (Barcelona & Brazil)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal & England)
- Fabian Ruiz (PSG & Spain)
- Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool & Netherlands)
- Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid & Brazil)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool & Egypt)
- Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen/Liverpool & Germany)
- Vitinha (PSG & Portugal)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)
*Denotes player who has since moved clubs.
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2025 nominees
- Sandy Baltimore (France, Chelsea)
- Barbra Banda (Zambia, Orlando Pride)
- Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona)
- Lucy Bronze (England, Chelsea)
- Klara Bühl (Germany, Bayern)
- Mariona Caldentey (Spain, Arsenal)
- Sofia Cantore (Italy, Juventus/Washington Spirit)
- Steph Catley (Australia, Arsenal)
- Temwa Chawinga (Malawi, Kansas City)
- Melchie Dumornay (Haiti, OL Lyonnes)
- Emily Fox (United States, Arsenal)
- Cristiana Girelli (Italy, Juventus)
- Esther González (Spain, Gotham FC)
- Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona)
- Patri Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
- Amanda Gutierres (Brazil, Palmeiras)
- Hannah Hampton (England, Chelsea)
- Pernille Harder (Denmark, Bayern)
- Lindsey Heaps (United States, OL Lyonnes)
- Chloe Kelly (England, Manchester City/Arsenal)
- Frida Maanum (Norway, Arsenal)
- Marta (Brazil, Orlando Pride)
- Clara Mateo (France, Paris FC)
- Ewa Pajor (Poland, Barcelona)
- Clàudia Pina (Spain, Barcelona)
- Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona)
- Alessia Russo (England, Arsenal)
- Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Sweden, Chelsea)
- Caroline Weir (Scotland, Real Madrid)
- Leah Williamson (England, Arsenal)
Who are the favourites to win? Latest odds
Ballon d’Or odds
Ousmane Dembele – 1/7
Lamine Yamal – 4/1
Vitinha – 14/1
Mohamed Salah – 15/1
Achraf Hakimi – 20/1
Raphinha – 20/1
Cole Palmer – 25/1
Fabián Ruiz – 25/1
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 25/1
Kylian Mbappe – 25/1
Pedri – 25/1
BAR – 30/1
Odds via BetMGM (subject to change).
How is the Ballon d’Or winner decided?
Unlike other awards that rely on votes from current players, the Ballon d’Or winner is voted on by journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings.
Each journalist, one per country, is asked to select their 10 best players in order, with points attributed to each position. The winner is the player who receives the most points.
What other awards will be given out?
Myles Lewis-Skelly and Estevao are on the 10-man shortlist for the Kopa Trophy, given to the best men’s under-21 player, but Yamal is the heavy favourite to win the award for a second successive year.
The Yashin Trophy, for goalkeeper of the year, could be won by a Premier League player, though, with David Raya, Alisson Becker, Matz Sels and Emi Martinez in the running.
Arne Slot and Enzo Maresca are both on the shortlist for men’s coach of the year, while WSL managers Renee Slegers and Sonia Bompastor are included on the shortlist for the women’s coach award.
There will also be an award for the best men’s and women’s club of the year.
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