After a season disrupted by a serious knee injury, Rodri has missed out on the shortlist this time, while previous winners Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema have also not been included.
There could instead be a first French winner of the award since Benzema in 2022, as Dembele is the favourite after helping Paris Saint-Germain claim their first-ever Champions League triumph in addition to winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions last season.
Dembele could become the sixth Frenchman to win the award in total after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Benzema.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal and Raphinha were instrumental in the club claiming a domestic double last season and one is the most likely winner should Dembele miss out.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is one of several Premier League players on the 30-man shortlist, along with the likes of Cole Palmer, Virgil van Dijk, Declan Rice and Viktor Gyokeres.
When will the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner be announced?
The winner will be crowned tonight on Monday, September 22, 2025 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
The ceremony is expected to begin at around 7pm BST.
How to watch the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony
TV channel: No UK broadcaster has been announced for the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Live stream: The ceremony will be broadcast live and for free on L’Equipe’s YouTube channel and website.
Live blog: You can follow the event via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Ballon d’Or 2025 shortlist in full
- Ousmane Dembele (PSG & 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 (Man City & Norway)
- Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting/Arsenal & Sweden)
- Achraf Hakimi (PSG & Morocco)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli/PSG & Georgia)
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona & Poland)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool & Argentina)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan & Argentina)
- Scott McTominay (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 (Bayer Leverkusen/Liverpool & Germany)
- Vitinha (PSG & Portugal)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)
*Denotes the player has since moved clubs.
Favourite: Ousmane Dembele
Getty Images
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 40/1
Odds via William Hill (subject to change).
What other awards will be given out?
The Ballon d’Or Feminin winner will also be announced, with Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo and Leah Williamson the five English players on the shortlist.
Once again there is a strong Spanish contingent nominated, including former winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas.
David Raya, Alisson Becker, Matz Sels and Emi Martinez are among the Premier League goalkeepers nominated for the Yashin Trophy, while Arne Slot, Enzo Maresca and Luis Enrique are all on the shortlist for men’s coach of the year.
Renee Slegers, Sarina Wiegman and Sonia Bompastor are included in what is a competitive shortlist for the women’s coach award.
There will also be an award for the best men’s and women’s club of the year. Barcelona, Botafogo, Chelsea, Liverpool and PSG make the men’s shortlist, and in the women’s game it is between Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, Lyon and Orlando Pride.
