Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is widely expected to claim the men’s Ballon d’Or on Monday, holding off Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, while Aitana Bonmati chases a third consecutive triumph in the women’s award.
The ceremony at Paris’s Theatre du Chatelet will once again showcase football’s elite, as the sport awaits the successor to an award long dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who shared 13 wins between 2008 and 2023.
Last year’s winner, Rodri, was honoured after leading Spain to Euro 2024 glory with Manchester City, but injuries derailed his most recent campaign, leaving the door open for a new champion.
At 28, Dembele has emerged as the frontrunner from a field heavily populated by Champions League winners PSG, who demolished Inter Milan 5-0 to lift the trophy for the first time. No fewer than nine PSG players are among the 30 nominees, including Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Gianluigi Donnarumma (now at Manchester City), and rising star Desire Doue.
Yet Dembele’s numbers give him the edge. Tasked with filling the void left by Kylian Mbappe’s departure, he thrived in a new central role, scoring 35 goals across all competitions. His output underpinned PSG’s domestic treble and a run to the Club World Cup final, transforming perceptions of a player once seen as inconsistent.
“It’s nice recognition after a wonderful season with PSG,” Dembele told Le Monde. “I think it’s true I’m one of the favourites, but we will see what happens.”
Although storms in southern France forced PSG’s match against Marseille to be rescheduled, many of their nominees will miss the gala due to fixture congestion. Dembele, sidelined by injury, is expected to attend.
While Dembele stands as favourite, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal represents the future. The Barcelona winger, already hailed as Messi’s successor, scored 18 goals in 55 appearances last season, helping Barça secure a LaLiga and Copa del Rey double.
Yamal also claimed the Kopa Trophy at last year’s gala as the best player under 21, and starred in Spain’s European Championship-winning campaign. His performances have raised expectations that he could dominate the Ballon d’Or landscape for years.
“I don’t dream of winning one Ballon d’Or—I dream of winning lots,” Yamal said recently, underlining his long-term ambitions.
The women’s Ballon d’Or looks more open. Aitana Bonmati, 27, remains the standout favourite after being named player of the tournament at Euro 2025, though Spain lost the final to England on penalties and her Barcelona side fell to Arsenal in the Champions League final.
Bonmati is seeking to become the first player—male or female—to win three consecutive Ballon d’Or titles. Her main competition may come from teammate Alexia Putellas, a two-time former winner, or from the core of England’s triumphant Euro 2025 side. Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton are all nominated, though no single Lioness has emerged as an obvious frontrunner.
Other names in contention include Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Viktor Gyökeres, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior, reflecting the depth of global talent under consideration.
With Messi and Ronaldo no longer at the centre of the conversation, this year’s Ballon d’Or marks a generational shift. Dembele, once defined by injuries and inconsistency, now has the chance to cement himself among the sport’s greats, while Yamal represents the promise of the next era.
For Bonmati, meanwhile, the pursuit of history continues—balancing personal legacy with the competitive rise of England’s Lionesses and a new wave of challengers.
