The Ballon d'Or is one of football's most coveted individual awards, given to the men's and women's players who are thought to have performed the best during a specific time frame.

It ran on a calendar-year basis for decades, and the winner was chosen by a group of foreign journalists. However, in 2022, the award moved to a season-based voting process to better correspond with football's competitive cycles. Here, you will find the results of the 2025 Ballon d'Or including recent winners.

Award Statistics

100+ Voting Journalists
30 Nominated Players
8 Messi's Total Wins

The Ballon d’Or for the 2024/25 season was awarded to Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé, who took home the prestigious accolade at the gala ceremony held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Dembélé, who helped his club secure their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, was chosen over other key contenders like Vinicius Junior and Erling Haaland based on a combination of individual performance, team success, and fair play.

The 2025 Top Contenders

Player Club Country Position
Ousmane Dembélé Paris Saint-Germain France Forward
Lamine Yamal Barcelona Spain Forward
Vitinha Paris Saint-Germain Portugal Midfielder
Raphinha Barcelona Brazil Forward
Mohamed Salah Liverpool Egypt Winger
Achraf Hakimi Paris Saint-Germain Morocco Defender

Recent Ballon d'Or Winners

  • 2025: Dembélé (France) - Paris Saint-Germain
  • 2024: Rodri (Spain) - Manchester City
  • 2023: Lionel Messi (Argentina) - Inter Miami
  • 2022: Karim Benzema (France) - Real Madrid
  • 2021: Lionel Messi (Argentina) - PSG
  • 2019: Lionel Messi (Argentina) - Barcelona
  • 2018: Luka Modrić (Croatia) - Real Madrid
  • 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Real Madrid
  • 2016: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Real Madrid

Note: The 2020 award was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Ballon d’Or is the ultimate dream of every footballer. It’s an individual prize, but it reflects collective triumphs—succeeding in competitions, lifting trophies, and delivering decisive performances.”

— Jürgen Klopp, in France Football interview, October 2022.

2025 Award Details

  • The 2025 award covers performances from August 2024 to July 2025
  • The ceremony included both men's and women's awards
  • Additional awards included the Kopa Trophy (best U21 player) and Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper)
  • The 30-player shortlist was announced in August 2025

Historical Context

The Ballon d'Or has been awarded since 1956, making it one of football's oldest and most prestigious individual honors. Originally limited to European players, the award expanded to include all players at European clubs in 1995, and then to all professional footballers worldwide in 2007.

The award merged with FIFA's World Player of the Year from 2010 to 2015, creating the FIFA Ballon d'Or, before returning to its original format in 2016 under the sole organization of France Football magazine.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner announced?

The 2025 Ballon d'Or winner was announced at a gala ceremony, which took place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Who were the favorites to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or?

The early favorites for the 2025 Ballon d'Or were Dembélé and Yamal based on their exceptional 2024/25 season performances. Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham were also strong contenders.

What period did the 2025 Ballon d'Or cover?

The 2025 Ballon d'Or evaluated player performances during the 2024/25 season, from August 2024 to July 2025. This included domestic leagues, European competitions, and any international tournaments.

Who won the 2024 Ballon d'Or?

Rodri from Manchester City won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Spanish player to win since Luis Suárez in 1960. His victory highlighted the growing recognition of defensive midfielders.

How many times has Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or?

Lionel Messi holds the record with 8 Ballon d'Or awards (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023). He is followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with 5 wins.

Can defenders win the Ballon d'Or?

Yes, but it's rare. The last defender to win was Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 after leading Italy to World Cup victory. Before him, Franz Beckenbauer (1972, 1976) and Matthias Sammer (1996) were the only other defenders to win.