The organisers of the Ballon d’Or have officially released the full 30-man shortlist for the 2025 edition of the prestigious award, with names like Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, and Declan Rice among those nominated.
The announcement, made on Thursday, showcases a strong blend of rising talents and established names who have made significant impact over the past football season.
The list also includes Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Vinicius Jr., and Mohamed Salah, reaffirming their continued influence in the global football scene.
Teen sensation Lamine Yamal, just 18, earns his first Ballon d’Or nomination after a breakout year with both club and country.
Similarly, Declan Rice’s leadership and form in midfield have not gone unnoticed, while Dembélé finds his way back into elite conversation following a stellar campaign.
Veteran stars like Robert Lewandowski, Virgil van Dijk, and Achraf Hakimi were also named, as were exciting young prospects such as Cole Palmer, Joao Neves, and Florian Wirtz.
According to organisers, the Ballon d’Or remains the highest individual honour in world football, rewarding outstanding performances, influence, and consistency over the past year.
The final winner will be crowned later this year at the annual Ballon d’Or ceremony in France.
FULL LIST OF 2025 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