The most prestigious individual prize in football, the Ballon d’Or, is awarded every year by France Football magazine to the player perceived to be the best in the world.
Whoever emerges winner is known via a dual system of voting.
At first, France Football and fellow French publication L’Equipe journalists will work together to release a combined list of 30 official nominees, based on the performances of players in the previous season. Sometimes encompasses a small chunk of former players.
Afterwards, one football journalist from each of the top 100 Fifa-ranked countries is invited to cast votes for their top 10 players in order from that shortlist. The 10 players are awarded 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point based on ranking.
Once all journalists have put forth their top 10s, points are tallied and the winner of the Ballon d’Or is the player who accumulated the most points in the voting, while the rest are ranked from second to 30th.
Here are three (3) factors voting journalists are encouraged to consider:
- Individual performances, decisive and impressive character
- Class of fair play
- Team performances and achievements
Change in how the Ballon D’Or is awarded
The Ballon D’Or is currently awarded in a way that is significantly different from how it was awarded when it was first created in 1956.
Only players in Europe were eligible for the award, until 1995. Then, for the next twelve (12) years, players of any origin featuring for a club in Europe were eligible. From 2007, players worldwide have been included.
FIFA now give out their own separate accolade, called the Fifa Best player award, however, its lack of long-term history means the Ballon d’Or is widely regarded more prestigious.
Voting was based on a performances of player over the course of a calendar year before 2022 – consisting half of two separate seasons in most elite leagues – before it was changed to include a single full season.
Winner of the most Ballon D’Or awards
Argentine player, Lionel Messi, remain the footballer with the most Ballon D’Or awards. He former Barcelona playmaker has won the prize a record eight (8) times.
Poruguese forward, Cristiano Ronaldo , who fields for Saudi Professional League club, Al Nassr, follows with five (5) prizes.
Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten won three (3) each. Other players that have clinched the men’s Ballon d’Or more than once are, Alfredo di Stefano, Franz Beckenbauer, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Ronaldo Nazario.
Women’s Ballon D’Or
Ballon d’or Feminine, which is the Women’s award, was created first in 2018.
It has been clinched twice by Spain internationals Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, and once each by Norway’s Ada Hegerberg and the United States of America’s Megan Rapinoe.
Voting for the Women’s award is almost the same as the Men’s award.
Why the Ballon D’Or is sometimes disapproved of
Sometimes, fans and pundits find fault with the way the Ballon D’Or is awarded.
Just one goalkeeper, Lev Yashin, alongside two centre-backs, Beckenbauer and Fabio Cannavaro, have ever won the award.
Complaints in hr awarding of the Ballon D’Or in the past have focused on the fact that the system has historically favoured attacking midfielders and forwards over more defensive players.
The tendency of the jury to vote for players whose teams have clinched the biggest trophies in the game that year, such as the World Cup and Champions League, has also caused controversy in the past.
Some at of the belief that collective feat should have no impact in voting, and that a player who has performed highly as an individual should not miss out because his team won no major trophy in that year.
When is the Ballon D’Or 2025
The winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or will be announced on 22 September 2025 at a ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in central Paris, France.
Other awards that will be given out at the ceremony include:
- The Kopa Trophy – awarded to the best player below the age of twenty-one (21), voting for this award is done by previous Ballon d’Or winners based on a shortlist of 10.
- The Yashin Trophy – awarded to the best goalkeeper, voting for this award is done by journalists based on a shortlist of 10.
- The Coach of the Year trophy – awarded to the best head coach, voting for this award is done by journalists based on a shortlist.
- The Club of the Year trophy – best team receives this award, voting for this award is done by journalists based on a shortlist.
Ballon D’Or 2025 Top Contenders
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy, goalkeeper, 26)
- Kvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG/Georgia, forward, 24)
- Ousmane Dembele (Paris St-Germain/France, forward, 28)
- Desire Doue (PSG/France, forward, 19)
- Raphinha (Barcelona/Brazil, forward, 28)
- Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/France, forward, 26)
- Pedri (Barcelona, midfielder, 22)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter/Argentina, forward, 27)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain, forward, 17)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt, forward, 32)
