SOME of football’s biggest names have been shortlisted for the highest individual accolade in the sport, the Ballon d’Or.
Footballing icons such as Lionel Messi , Johan Cruyff and Cristiano Ronaldo have all won the prestigious prize on numerous occasions.
Messi leads the way for the most Ballon d’Or wins, winning the award eight times, three more than rival Ronaldo, who is second.
Last year, Rodri became the first player in Manchester City history to win the accolade after he won the Premier League, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup with the Cityzens.
The midfielder also helped Spain win Euro 2024 last summer.
This year’s star-studded 30-player shortlist includes some huge names – and SunSport can reveal the full list of players in contention for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Who are the Ballon d’Or 2025 nominees?
Here are all 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or:
- Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona, 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 (Manchester City, Norway)
- Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal, Sweden)
- Achraf Hakimi (PSG, Morocco)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG, Georgia)
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, Argentina)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
- Scott McTominnay (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 (Liverpool, Germany)
- Vitinha (PSG, Portugal)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
PSG pair Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue are amongst the leading contenders to succeed Rodri after the French side’s stunning success domestically and in the Champions League last term.
Mohamed Salah had his most prolific campaign in Liverpool’s title-winning season, scoring 29 goals and providing 18 assists, breaking the Premier League record for most goal involvements in a single season.
Other standout contenders include Barcelona phenomenon Lamine Yamal and former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay .
The Scot helped Napoli to the Scudetto and was crowned Serie A Player of the Year.
When will the Ballon d’Or 2025 winner be announced?
- The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on Monday, September 22.
- The ceremony will take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in central Paris.
Who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards?
Here is a list of all the multiple-time Ballon d’Or winners:
- Lionel Messi – 8: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 5: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
- Michel Platini – 3: 1983, 1984, 1985
- Johan Cruyff – 3: 1971, 1971, 1974
- Marco van Basten – 3: 1988, 1989, 1992
- Franz Beckenbauer – 2: 1972, 1976
- Ronaldo – 2: 1997, 2002
- Alfredo Di Stefano – 2: 1957, 1959
- Kevin Keegan – 2: 1978, 1979
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – 2: 1980, 1981
