Ballon d’Or Nominees to Be Announced in Three Weeks

The list of nominees for the prestigious award will be revealed on August 7, with the ceremony set for Monday, September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Presented annually by France Football since 1956, the Ballon d’Or is the most distinguished individual honor a footballer can receive. The magazine has set Thursday, August 7 as the date to unveil the list of nominees, while the award ceremony will take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday, September 22. This will be the 69th edition of the award.

Which categories will be presented at the gala in addition to the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or?

UEFA has already announced on its official website the eleven categories of prizes that will be awarded during the ceremony:

• Men’s Ballon d’Or

• Women’s Ballon d’Or

• Men’s Kopa Trophy (best young player)

• Women’s Kopa Trophy (best young player)

• Men’s Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper)

• Women’s Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper)

• Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer for club/country)

• Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer for club/country)

• Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach at club or national team level)

• Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach at club or national team level)

• Men’s Club of the Year Award

• Women’s Club of the Year Award

• Sócrates Award (recognition of social and humanitarian causes)

Main contenders for the men’s Ballon d’Or:

In a season where FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have stood out across Europe both in terms of footballing brilliance and collective silverware, the list of nominees is expected to be filled with players from both clubs. Names like Pedri, Vitinha, Raphinha, Doué, Lewandowski, and Mbappé are tipped to feature, with the frontrunners for the prize believed to be Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé. The debate over the winner has intensified after Luis Enrique’s PSG were defeated 3–0 by Chelsea in the Club World Cup final. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s emphatic victory has also bolstered Cole Palmer’s candidacy, after he scored twice in the final.

Main contenders for the women’s Ballon d’Or:

Barcelona’s women’s team have once again dominated the season, winning Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, and the Spanish Super Cup. As a result, Aitana Bonmatí is a strong favorite to retain her title. Teammates Alexia Putellas and Caroline Graham Hansen are also likely to be in contention, alongside Arsenal’s European champions Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey. However, this summer’s international tournaments—including the Euros, Copa América, and Africa Cup of Nations—are expected to play a decisive role in determining the winner.

Football fans now have just two months to wait before finding out who will take home the coveted award at a gala that promises high anticipation—and where Lamine Yamal could be crowned the youngest Ballon d’Or winner in history.