Ballon d’Or 2025 Shortlist: Full 30-Man Nominee List Revealed
The Road to Football’s Biggest Prize Begins
The countdown to football’s most prestigious individual award has officially begun as France Football unveiled the 30-man shortlist for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. The lineup features a perfect blend of rising superstars, in-form playmakers, and legendary veterans who have shaped the past season with stunning performances for both club and country.
From 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal dazzling for Barcelona to seasoned striker Robert Lewandowski still making headlines at 36, the list reflects the global depth of talent in the modern game.
The Full 2025 Ballon d’Or Shortlist
1. Lamine Yamal – 18 | Barcelona | Spain | Winger
2. Pedri – 22 | Barcelona | Spain | Midfielder
3. Fabián Ruiz – 29 | PSG | Spain | Midfielder
4. Cole Palmer – 22 | Chelsea | England | Attacking Midfielder
5. Harry Kane – 32 | Bayern Munich | England | Striker
6. Declan Rice – 26 | Arsenal | England | Defensive Midfielder
7. Jude Bellingham – 22 | Real Madrid | England | Midfielder
8. Lautaro Martínez – 28 | Inter Milan | Argentina | Striker
9. Alexis Mac Allister – 26 | Liverpool | Argentina | Midfielder
10. Nuno Mendes – 22 | PSG | Portugal | Left-Back
11. João Neves – 20 | Benfica | Portugal | Midfielder
12. Vitinha – 24 | PSG | Portugal | Midfielder
13. Ousmane Dembélé – 28 | PSG | France | Winger
14. Michael Olise – 22 | Crystal Palace | France | Attacking Midfielder
15. Désiré Doué – 19 | PSG | France | Winger
16. Kylian Mbappé – 26 | Real Madrid | France | Forward
17. Virgil van Dijk – 33 | Liverpool | Netherlands | Centre-Back
18. Denzel Dumfries – 28 | Inter Milan | Netherlands | Right-Back
19. Vinícius Júnior – 25 | Real Madrid | Brazil | Winger
20. Raphinha – 28 | Barcelona | Brazil | Winger
21. Florian Wirtz – 21 | Bayer Leverkusen | Germany | Attacking Midfielder
22. Serhou Guirassy – 29 | VfB Stuttgart | Guinea | Striker
23. Mohamed Salah – 33 | Liverpool | Egypt | Right Winger
24. Erling Haaland – 25 | Manchester City | Norway | Striker
25. Scott McTominay – 27 | Napoli | Scotland | Midfielder
26. Gianluigi Donnarumma – 26 | PSG | Italy | Goalkeeper
27. Robert Lewandowski – 36 | Barcelona | Poland | Striker
28. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 24 | Napoli | Georgia | Winger
29. Viktor Gyökeres – 27 | Sporting CP | Sweden | Striker
30. Achraf Hakimi – 26 | PSG | Morocco | Right-Bac
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A Battle of Generations
This year’s race has the makings of one of the most competitive in recent history. Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid has been electric, Haaland continues his relentless goal-scoring spree for Manchester City, and Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the most dominant midfielders in Europe.
Meanwhile, young sensations like Yamal, Wirtz, and Palmer have been making a case for a generational shift in world football. Veterans like Salah, Van Dijk, and Lewandowski prove that age is no barrier to elite performance.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony will not only crown the best player in the world but also settle months of debate among fans and pundits.
Who is your pick for the Ballon d’Or this year?
