{"id":10996,"date":"2025-08-07T19:07:05","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T19:07:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=10996"},"modified":"2025-08-07T19:07:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T19:07:07","slug":"ballon-dor-nominees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/ballon-dor-nominees","title":{"rendered":"Who&#8217;s going to win the Ballon d&#8217;Or?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Football\u2019s biggest individual prize, the Ballon d&#8217;Or, is back, and the 2025 race is shaping up to be a banger. Today, the stacked list of 30 nominees was announced, as well as the nominees for the Yashin Trophy, Coach of the Year, Pichichi and Kopa Trophies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ceremony, set for September 22, 2025, at Paris\u2019s Th\u00e9\u00e2tre du Ch\u00e2telet, promises drama, surprises, and maybe a few raised eyebrows. Let\u2019s break down the frontrunners, spotlight a dark horse, and peek at the other awards stealing the spotlight this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>All the Ballon d&#8217;Or information<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-ballon-d-or-nominees\">The Ballon d&#8217;Or Nominees<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#ballon-d-or-frontrunners\">Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#lamine-yamal\">Lamine Yamal<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#mohamed-salah\">Mohamed Salah<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#kylian-mbappe\">Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#desire-doue\">Desire Dou\u00e9<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#v\">Gianluigi Donnarumma<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#lautaro-martinez\">Lautaro Martinez<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#vinicius-jr\">Vinicius Jr.<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#raphinha\">Raphinha<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#scott-mc-tominay-less-likely-but-what-a-resurgence\">Scott McTominay &#8211; less likely, but what a resurgence<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-ballon-d-or-nominees\">The Ballon d&#8217;Or Nominees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<table border=\"1\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Rank<\/th>\r\n<th>Player Name<\/th>\r\n<th>Club\/Team<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>1<\/td>\r\n<td>Mohamed Salah<\/td>\r\n<td>Liverpool<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>2<\/td>\r\n<td>Lamine Yamal<\/td>\r\n<td>Barcelona<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>3<\/td>\r\n<td>Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9<\/td>\r\n<td>PSG<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>4<\/td>\r\n<td>Vinicius Jr.<\/td>\r\n<td>Real Madrid<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>5<\/td>\r\n<td>Virgil van Dijk<\/td>\r\n<td>Liverpool<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>6<\/td>\r\n<td>Vitinha<\/td>\r\n<td>PSG<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>7<\/td>\r\n<td>Florian Wirtz<\/td>\r\n<td>Bayer Leverkusen\/Liverpool<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>8<\/td>\r\n<td>Fabian Ruiz<\/td>\r\n<td>PSG<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>9<\/td>\r\n<td>Declan Rice<\/td>\r\n<td>Arsenal<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>10<\/td>\r\n<td>Raphinha<\/td>\r\n<td>Barcelona<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>11<\/td>\r\n<td>Michael Olise<\/td>\r\n<td>PSG<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>12<\/td>\r\n<td>Cole Palmer<\/td>\r\n<td>Chelsea<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>13<\/td>\r\n<td>Pedri<\/td>\r\n<td>Barcelona<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>14<\/td>\r\n<td>Joao Neves<\/td>\r\n<td>PSG<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>15<\/td>\r\n<td>Nuno Mendes<\/td>\r\n<td>PSG<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>16<\/td>\r\n<td>Kvicha Kvaratskhelia<\/td>\r\n<td>PSG<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>17<\/td>\r\n<td>Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/td>\r\n<td>Real Madrid<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>18<\/td>\r\n<td>Scott McTominay<\/td>\r\n<td>Napoli<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>19<\/td>\r\n<td>Lautaro Martinez<\/td>\r\n<td>Inter<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>20<\/td>\r\n<td>Alexis Mac Allister<\/td>\r\n<td>Liverpool<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>21<\/td>\r\n<td>Robert Lewandowski<\/td>\r\n<td>Barcelona<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>22<\/td>\r\n<td>Harry Kane<\/td>\r\n<td>Bayern Munich<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>23<\/td>\r\n<td>Achraf Hakimi<\/td>\r\n<td>PSG<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>24<\/td>\r\n<td>Viktor Gy\u00f6keres<\/td>\r\n<td>Sporting CP\/Arsenal<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>25<\/td>\r\n<td>Erling Haaland<\/td>\r\n<td>Manchester City<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>26<\/td>\r\n<td>Serhou Guirassy<\/td>\r\n<td>Borussia Dortmund<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>27<\/td>\r\n<td>Denzel Dumfries<\/td>\r\n<td>Inter<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>28<\/td>\r\n<td>Desire Dou\u00e9<\/td>\r\n<td>PSG<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>29<\/td>\r\n<td>Jude Bellingham<\/td>\r\n<td>Real Madrid<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>30<\/td>\r\n<td>Gianluigi Donnarumma<\/td>\r\n<td>PSG<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ballon-d-or-frontrunners\">Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/ousmane-dembele-39779\">Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9<\/a> is the name on everyone\u2019s lips. The PSG winger has been a force of nature, racking up 33 goals and 13 assists in 49 games during their treble-winning season (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Champions League). His speed, flair, and knack for big moments have turned heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were times were it seemed that Dembele had all the talent but never the execution. He&#8217;s changed that now. It\u2019s not just his stats; it\u2019s the way he dances past defenders like they\u2019re cones in a training drill. He&#8217;s a Ballon d&#8217;Or frontrunner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2204594192-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024\/25 UEFA Champions League 2024\/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on March 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England. \" class=\"wp-image-8819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2204594192-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2204594192-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2204594192-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2204594192-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2204594192-1-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Chris Brunskill\/Fantasista\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lamine-yamal\">Lamine Yamal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>At just 18, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lamine-yamal-131182\">Lamine Yamal<\/a> is making grown men look silly. Barcelona\u2019s wonderkid posted 18 goals and 21 assists this season, numbers that shout current and future legend of the game. His ability to glide through tight spaces and deliver pinpoint passes feels like watching a video game character with maxed-out stats. Yamal\u2019s youth adds a wild card: voters love a story, and a teenager snagging the Ballon d&#8217;Or would be one for the ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mohamed-salah\">Mohamed Salah<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/mohamed-salah-1439\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> is like a fine wine, getting better with age. Liverpool\u2019s talisman led them to the Premier League title, and his consistency is absurd. Goals, assists, leadership &#8211; he\u2019s got it all. He was the Premier League&#8217;s top scorer with 29 goals and also the top assister with 18 assists. Ridiculous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"723\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2175291559-2-1024x723.jpg\" alt=\"WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the second Liverpool goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Liverpool FC at Molineux on September 28, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England. \" class=\"wp-image-11004\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2175291559-2-1024x723.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2175291559-2-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2175291559-2-768x542.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2175291559-2-1536x1084.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2175291559-2-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by John Powell\/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"kylian-mbappe\">Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/kylian-mbappe-39820\">Kylian Mbapp\u00e9\u2019<\/a>s move to Real Madrid was the transfer saga of the decade, and he\u2019s delivered. Top scorer in his first season in La Liga. Madness. Moving like CR7 15 years ago. His blistering pace and clinical finishing have lit it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mbapp\u00e9\u2019s numbers are gaudy, but it\u2019s his aura that sets him apart &#8211; he walks onto the pitch like he owns it. Real Madrid\u2019s success in Europe and domestically gives him a platform, but has he done enough to outshine Demb\u00e9l\u00e9\u2019s treble? It\u2019s a tight call. One thing\u2019s sure: Mbapp\u00e9\u2019s hunger for the Ballon d&#8217;Or is palpable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"665\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2162229159-1024x665.jpg\" alt=\"Ballon d'Or Bapp\u00e9\" class=\"wp-image-7090\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2162229159-1024x665.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2162229159-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2162229159-768x499.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2162229159-1536x997.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2162229159-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by David Ramos\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"desire-doue\">Desire Dou\u00e9<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/desire-doue-109665\">Desire Dou\u00e9<\/a>, another PSG gem, is the wildcard in this race. At 20, he\u2019s already turning heads with his versatility and composure. Whether he\u2019s breaking lines with a dribble or picking out a killer pass, Dou\u00e9 plays with a maturity beyond his years. His role in PSG\u2019s treble run, though not as loud as Demb\u00e9l\u00e9\u2019s, has voters intrigued. Two goals in the Champions League final is nasty. A nomination for both the Ballon d&#8217;Or and Kopa Trophy shows his stock is skyrocketing. Could he sneak into the top five? Don\u2019t be surprised.<\/p>\n<p><em>Read our Ballon d&#8217;Or piece from March here!<\/em><\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ztAeZMxWUQ\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/whos-winning-the-ballon-dor\">Who&#8217;s winning the race for the Ballon d&#8217;Or?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Who&#8217;s winning the race for the Ballon d&#8217;Or?&#8221; &#8212; 365Scores\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/whos-winning-the-ballon-dor\/embed#?secret=e7DGopnZaV#?secret=ztAeZMxWUQ\" data-secret=\"ztAeZMxWUQ\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"v\">Gianluigi Donnarumma<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Goalkeepers rarely get the Ballon d&#8217;Or love, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/gianluigi-donnarumma-14478\">Gianluigi Donnarumma<\/a> is making a case. PSG\u2019s treble owes a lot to his heroics between the sticks. Those sprawling saves in the Champions League knockouts? Pure class. That save from the lethal Martin Odegaard strike in the UCL semi-finals was wild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Donnarumma\u2019s presence gives PSG a backbone, and his Yashin Trophy nomination only strengthens his resume. A goalkeeper winning the big prize feels like a long shot, but if anyone can make history, it\u2019s this Italian giant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lautaro-martinez\">Lautaro Martinez<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lautaro-martinez-38667\">Lautaro Martinez<\/a> has been Inter Milan\u2019s heartbeat. The Argentine striker\u2019s goals powered Inter to another Serie A title, and his work off the ball is relentless. 24 goals this season for Inter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\u2019s not just a poacher; he\u2019s a leader, dragging his team through gritty matches. Martinez\u2019s Copa Am\u00e9rica exploits with Argentina add international clout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"vinicius-jr\">Vinicius Jr.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/vinicius-junior-48298\">Vinicius Jr.<\/a> is a human highlight reel. His dribbles are audacious, his goals are spectacular, and his energy is infectious. Real Madrid\u2019s success in La Liga and Europe leans heavily on his ability to turn games on their head. He\u2019s been in the Ballon d&#8217;Or conversation before, but 2025 feels like his year to shine. The question is whether his flair outshines Demb\u00e9l\u00e9\u2019s trophy haul. It\u2019s a close call, and voters might lean toward the Brazilian\u2019s charisma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"676\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-1933429005-1024x676.jpg\" alt=\"RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - JANUARY 14: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid dribbles the ball before a shot to score during the Super Copa de Espa\u00f1a Final match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona on January 14, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. \" class=\"wp-image-5361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-1933429005-1024x676.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-1933429005-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-1933429005-768x507.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-1933429005-1536x1014.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-1933429005-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Helios de la Rubia\/Real Madrid via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"raphinha\">Raphinha<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/raphinha-39789\">Raphinha<\/a> had a goated Champions League campaign. He doesn\u2019t always get the headlines, but Barcelona fans know his worth. He had the second-best individual campaign ever in the UCL, surpassing any season that Messi ever had with Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His work rate, combined with lethal finishing and playmaking, has been crucial for Bar\u00e7a\u2019s resurgence. He\u2019s not the loudest name on the list, but his contributions are undeniable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GettyImages-2172974597-3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Raphinha right winger of Barcelona and Brazil celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the LaLiga match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona  at Estadio de la Ceramica on September 22, 2024 in Villarreal, Spain.  \" class=\"wp-image-7851\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GettyImages-2172974597-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GettyImages-2172974597-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GettyImages-2172974597-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GettyImages-2172974597-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GettyImages-2172974597-3-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Jose Breton\/Pics Action\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"scott-mc-tominay-less-likely-but-what-a-resurgence\">Scott McTominay &#8211; less likely, but what a resurgence<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s talk about Scott McTominay. Yes, <strong>that<\/strong> Scott McTominay. The former Manchester United midfielder, now thriving at Napoli, has had a fairy-tale rise. From a squad player to a Ballon d&#8217;Or nominee, his journey is wild. At Napoli, he\u2019s found his groove, anchoring the midfield with grit and popping up with crucial goals. He also looks the part as well. McTominay at Wimbledon looked like an Italian native.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not just his stats; it\u2019s his knack for stepping up when it counts. Nobody saw this coming, but McTominay\u2019s hustle and heart have earned him a seat at the table. Top 10? Probably not. But his story is one for the romantics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"n\">Notable Ballon d&#8217;Or Snubs:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year, the Ballon d&#8217;Or list sparks as much talk about who\u2019s missing as who\u2019s included. This time, names like Bruno Fernandes and Bukayo Saka are glaring absences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fernandes, Manchester United\u2019s midfield engine, has been a consistent creator, yet his lack of major team silverware might\u2019ve hurt him. Saka, Arsenal\u2019s dazzling winger, delivered goals and assists aplenty, but perhaps the Gunners\u2019 failure to clinch the Premier League left him just short. Other names like Kevin De Bruyne Julian Alvarez, Frenkie de Jong, Federico Valverde, and many more also missed the cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Some of the biggest names in football were left off this year\u2019s Ballon d&#8217;Or shortlist \u274c\u26bd<br \/><br \/>Which superstar do YOU think was unfairly snubbed from the top 30? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ID9Kq9ROlh\">pic.twitter.com\/ID9Kq9ROlh<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1953479711666876711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">August 7, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"kopa-trophy-breakdown\">Kopa Trophy Breakdown<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kopa Trophy, for the best player under 21, is a showcase of football\u2019s future. Lamine Yamal leads the pack with his jaw-dropping season, but he\u2019s got company. Desire Dou\u00e9 and Joao Neves from PSG, Pau Cubarsi from Barcelona, and Chelsea\u2019s Estevao are among the 10 nominees. Ayyoub Bouaddi, Dean Huijsen, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Rodrigo Mora, and Kenan Yildiz round out the list. Yamal\u2019s the favorite, but Dou\u00e9\u2019s versatility and Neves\u2019s midfield mastery make this a tight race. Voted by past Ballon d&#8217;Or winners, this award always sparks debate about who\u2019s next in line for global domination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"yashin-trophy-the-goalkeepers-glory\">Yashin Trophy: The Goalkeepers\u2019 Glory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Yashin Trophy celebrates the game\u2019s best shot-stoppers, and Gianluigi Donnarumma is the man to beat. His role in PSG\u2019s treble makes him a shoo-in, but Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) and Alisson Becker (Liverpool) aren\u2019t far behind. The list also includes Yassine Bounou, Lucas Chevalier, Thibaut Courtois, Jan Oblak, David Raya, Matz Sels, and Yann Sommer. Goalkeepers don\u2019t get enough love, so this award is a chance to shine. Donnarumma\u2019s clutch saves in big games give him the edge, but Martinez\u2019s Copa Am\u00e9rica heroics keep it interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pichichi-trophy-the-goal-scoring-race\">Pichichi Trophy: The Goal-Scoring Race<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While not part of the Ballon d&#8217;Or gala, the Pichichi Trophy, awarded to La Liga\u2019s top scorer, is worth a nod. Robert Lewandowski, another Ballon d&#8217;Or nominee, is a contender here, battling it out with the likes of Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 and Lamine Yamal. Lewandowski\u2019s knack for finding the net, even at 36, is unreal. The Pichichi race often influences Ballon d&#8217;Or voting, as goal-scoring prowess catches eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-is-the-ballon-d-or-ceremony\">When is the Ballon d&#8217;Or ceremony?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ballon d&#8217;Or ceremony is September 22, 2025, at the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre du Ch\u00e2telet in Paris. It\u2019s football\u2019s Oscars, complete with glitz, glamour, and a few nervous acceptance speeches. The event kicks off at 8 p.m. CET, and you can catch it live on the L\u2019Equipe app or website. With 100 journalists voting on the men\u2019s award, the outcome is anyone\u2019s guess until the envelope\u2019s opened. Will Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 take the crown, or will Yamal or Salah pull off an upset? The countdown is on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-504549172-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 11: FIFA Ballon d'Or nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona (L) and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid (R) attend a press conference prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. \" class=\"wp-image-11003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-504549172-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-504549172-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-504549172-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-504549172-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-504549172-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Philipp Schmidli\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025 Ballon d&#8217;Or feels like a turning point. No <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lionel-messi-874\">Messi<\/a>, no <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/cristiano-ronaldo-817\">Ronaldo<\/a>, just a new generation battling it out. From Yamal\u2019s teenage brilliance to McTominay\u2019s underdog story, the nominees tell a story of change. PSG\u2019s dominance, with seven nominees, shows their rise as a football superpower. But Liverpool, Barcelona, and Real Madrid aren\u2019t backing down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The mix of veterans like Salah and Lewandowski with young stars like Dou\u00e9 and Yamal makes this race unpredictable. And honestly, that\u2019s what makes it so fun. Who do you think deserves the golden ball? The beauty of football is that everyone\u2019s got an opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo \u2014 two names that dominated the Ballon d&#8217;Or stage for years \u2014 are missing from the nominees list for the second consecutive year. <br \/><br \/>Is this the official end of an era? Or just a pause before one last dance?&#8221; \u26bd\ud83d\udd25 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nEmEPWmbPG\">pic.twitter.com\/nEmEPWmbPG<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1953465445186482455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">August 7, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>By Nicky Helfgott &#8211; <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NickyHelfgott1\"><em>NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter<\/em>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep up with all the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\">latest football news<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\"> Premier League news<\/a> on 365Scores!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"riddle2-wrapper\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; max-width: 100%; width: 640px;\" data-rid-id=\"YfzmtJFL\" data-auto-scroll=\"true\" data-is-fixed-height-enabled=\"false\" data-bg=\"#fff\" data-fg=\"#00205b\"><script src=\"https:\/\/www.riddle.com\/embed\/build-embedjs\/embedV2.js\"><\/script><iframe title=\"Who's going to win the Ballon d'Or?\" src=\"https:\/\/www.riddle.com\/embed\/a\/YfzmtJFL?lazyImages=false&amp;staticHeight=false\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Football\u2019s biggest individual prize, the Ballon d&#8217;Or, is back, and the 2025 race is shaping up to be a banger. Today, the stacked list of 30 nominees was announced, as well as the nominees for the Yashin Trophy, Coach of the Year, Pichichi and Kopa Trophies. The ceremony, set for September 22, 2025, at Paris\u2019s &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":11001,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[3304,1095,2254,1758,221,3879,188,1287,841,14,719,316,3877,60,314,59,3874,2029,3875],"class_list":["post-10996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","tag-ballon-dor-2025","tag-barcelona","tag-desire-doue","tag-florian-wirtz","tag-gianluigi-donnarumma","tag-kopa-trophy","tag-kylian-mbappe","tag-lamine-yamal","tag-lautaro-martinez","tag-liverpool","tag-mohamed-salah","tag-ousmane-dembele","tag-pichichi-trophy","tag-psg","tag-raphinha","tag-real-madrid","tag-scott-mctominay","tag-vinicius-jr","tag-yashin-trophy","article_type-discover","entity_type-competition","entity_type-competitor","inspiration-365s-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10996"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10996\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11036,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10996\/revisions\/11036"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}