Football's most prestigious individual honor, Ballon d'Or 2025, returns for its 69th edition this year, bringing a lot of excitement for the event.
Some of the greatest footballers, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have been recognized with this award in the past, but now it's up to the rising talents to take forward the legacy.
Among the favorites, Paris stars Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi are joined by Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Raphinha as the top contenders for the men's Ballon d'Or title. Other notable names include Erling Haaland of Manchester City, Mohammad Salah of Liverpool, and Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid.
Below are the details on the ceremony start time, when we'll likely see a winner crowned, and how you can watch in the U.S.
What time is Ballon d'Or 2025?
The 2025 Ballon d'Or award gala will kick off from the Theatre du Chatelet on Monday, September 22 at 9:00 p.m. local time (CEST).
Here's how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Draw time | |
| Eastern Time | Mon., Sept. 22 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Central Time | Mon., Sept. 22 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Mon., Sept. 22 | 1:00 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Mon., Sept. 22 | 12:00 p.m. |
How to watch 2025 Ballon d'Or in US
Here's how to watch the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the U.S.:
TV channel: None
Live stream: Paramount+, CBS Sports Gozalo Network
Fans in the US will be able to stream the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Gozalo Network.
Apart from Ballon d'Or 2025, Paramount+ holds the exclusive rights to some highly recognized soccer competitions, including the Champions League, Serie A, the EFL, and more.
Paramount+ offers a FREE trial, so new subscribers can enjoy it for one week before making a payment.
2025 Ballon d'Or list of nominees, awards
2025 men's Ballon d'Or nominees
| Player | Pos | Nationality | Club (Nation) | Age |
| Jude Bellingham | CM | England | Real Madrid (ESP) | 22 |
| Ousmane Dembele | FWD | France | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 28 |
| Gianluigi Donnarumma | GK | Italy | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 26 |
| Desire Doue | FWD | France | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 20 |
| Denzel Dumfries | RB | Netherlands | Inter Milan (ITA) | 29 |
| Serhou Guirassy | FWD | Guinea | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 29 |
| Viktor Gyokeres | FWD | Sweden | Sporting CP (POR) | 27 |
| Erling Haaland | FWD | Norway | Manchester City (ENG) | 25 |
| Achraf Hakimi | RB | Morocco | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 26 |
| Harry Kane | FWD | England | Bayern Munich (GER) | 32 |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | FWD | Georgia | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 24 |
| Lamine Yamal | FWD | Spain | Barcelona (ESP) | 18 |
| Robert Lewandowski | FWD | Poland | Barcelona (ESP) | 36 |
| Alexis Mac Allister | CM | Argentina | Liverpool (ENG) | 26 |
| Lautaro Martinez | FWD | Argentina | Inter Milan (ITA) | 27 |
| Kylian Mbappe | FWD | France | Real Madrid (ESP) | 26 |
| Scott McTominay | CM | England | Napoli (ITA) | 28 |
| Nuno Mendes | LB | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 23 |
| Joao Neves | CM | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 20 |
| Michael Olise | FWD | France | Bayern Munich (GER) | 23 |
| Cole Palmer | ACM | England | Chelsea (ENG) | 23 |
| Pedri | CM | Spain | Barcelona (ESP) | 22 |
| Declan Rice | CM | England | Arsenal (ENG) | 26 |
| Fabian Ruiz | CM | Spain | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 29 |
| Raphinha | FWD | Brazil | Barcelona (ESP) | 28 |
| Mohamed Salah | FWD | Egypt | Liverpool (ENG) | 33 |
| Virgil van Dijk | CB | Netherlands | Liverpool (ENG) | 34 |
| Vinicius Jr. | FWD | Brazil | Real Madrid (ESP) | 25 |
| Vitinha | CM | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 25 |
| Florian Wirtz | ACM | Germany | Bayer Leverkusen (GER) | 22 |
2025 women's Ballon d'Or shortlist
The following 30 players were officially nominated for the women's Ballon d'Or in 2025.
| Player | Pos | Nationality | Club (Nation) | Age |
| Sandy Baltimore | FWD | France | Chelsea (ENG) | 25 |
| Barbara Banda | FWD | Zambia | Orlando Pride (USA) | 25 |
| Aitana Bonmati | FWD | Spain | Barcelona (ESP) | 27 |
| Lucy Bronze | RB | England | Chelsea (ENG) | 33 |
| Klara Buhl | FWD | Germany | Bayern Munich (GER) | 24 |
| Mariona Caldentey | ACM | Spain | Arsenal (ENG) | 29 |
| Sofia Cantore | FWD | Italy | Juventus/Washington Spirit | 25 |
| Steph Catley | CB | Australia | Arsenal (ENG) | 31 |
| Temwa Chawinga | FWD | Malawi | Kansas City Current (USA) | 26 |
| Melchie Dumornay | FWD | Haiti | Lyon (FRA) | 22 |
| Emily Fox | RB | USA | Arsenal (ENG) | 27 |
| Cristiana Girella | FWD | Italy | Juventus (ITA) | 35 |
| Esther Gonzalez | FWD | Spain | Gotham FC (USA) | 32 |
| Caroline Graham Hansen | FWD | Norway | Barcelona (ESP) | 30 |
| Patri Guijarro | CM | Spain | Barcelona (ESP) | 27 |
| Amanda Gutierres | FWD | Brazil | Palmeiras (BRA) | 24 |
| Hannah Hampton | GK | England | Chelsea (ENG) | 24 |
| Pernille Harder | FWD | Denmark | Bayern Munich (GER) | 32 |
| Lindsey Heaps | CM | USA | Lyon (FRA) | 31 |
| Chloe Kelly | FWD | England | Arsenal (ENG) | 27 |
| Frida Leonhardsen Maanum | CM | Norway | Arsenal (ENG) | 26 |
| Marta | FWD | Brazil | Orlando Pride (USA) | 39 |
| Clara Mateo | FWD | France | Paris FC (FRA) | 27 |
| Ewa Pajor | FWD | Poland | Barcelona (ESP) | 28 |
| Claudia Pina | FWD | Spain | Barcelona (ESP) | 23 |
| Alexia Putellas | CM | Spain | Barcelona (ESP) | 31 |
| Alessia Russo | FWD | England | Arsenal (ENG) | 26 |
| Johanna Rytting Kaneryd | FWD | Sweden | Chelsea (ENG) | 28 |
| Caroline Weir | CM | Scotland | Real Madrid (ESP) | 30 |
| Leah Williamson | CB | England | Arsenal (ENG) | 28 |