PARIS (BN24) — The nominees for the 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony have been announced, with Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, and Mohamed Salah among the headline names vying for football’s most prestigious individual award.
Dembele, fresh off a standout season with Paris Saint-Germain, is the front-runner to win his first Ballon d’Or after scoring 36 goals and providing 13 assists across all competitions for club and country. The 28-year-old winger also played a key role in PSG’s domestic league triumph and their UEFA Champions League victory, marking a career-best season for the French international.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is also among the top contenders after helping the Reds clinch the Premier League title. The Egyptian forward continues to be one of the most consistent performers in world football, maintaining a high level of output in both domestic and European competitions.
Another notable name is Brazilian winger Raphinha, who lifted the La Liga title with Barcelona and impressed with his dynamic performances throughout the season.
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, who recently completed a high-profile transfer from PSG, is once again on the shortlist. Despite intense competition, the French striker remains a regular fixture among football’s elite due to his consistency and goal-scoring prowess.
Surprisingly, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi were omitted from this year’s list. Ronaldo, who won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal in June, was expected by some to be included, while Messi, currently playing with Inter Miami in MLS, also failed to make the cut.
The prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where the world’s top footballer of the 2024–2025 season will be crowned.
This year’s nominees include a diverse mix of talent from Europe’s top clubs, with strong representation from PSG, Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Barcelona. Among them are Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), and Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), as well as emerging stars like Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), and Michael Olise (Bayern Munich).
The list also features standout performers from less traditionally dominant nations, including Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea), and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia), reflecting the increasingly global nature of the sport.
As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on Paris to see whether Dembele can cap his exceptional season with the Ballon d’Or — or if one of the other global stars will emerge to claim football’s ultimate individual honor.
