When Is Ballon d’Or 2025 – Date, Venue, Nominees Confirmed

The 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony took place on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France. This marked a significant shift in the football calendar, as the event moved from its traditional late October slot to September, co-organized by France Football and UEFA.

Nominees for the prestigious individual awards were announced earlier than in previous years, on August 7, 2025. The evaluation period for men’s football concluded on July 13, 2025, following the FIFA Club World Cup final, while the women’s evaluation period extended to August 2, 2025, ending with the Copa América Femenina final.

The ceremony introduced several innovations for 2025, including expanded award categories and continued partnership between France Football and UEFA, reflecting the evolving landscape of global football recognition.

When Is the Ballon d’Or 2025 Ceremony?

• The 2025 ceremony moved to September, one month earlier than the October 28, 2024 event.
• This marked the first year of expanded categories, including the Johan Cruyff Trophy for coaches.
• The nominee announcement on August 7 represented a shift toward earlier disclosure of the shortlist.
• Voting was conducted by journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations for men’s awards.
• The evaluation period covered August 1, 2024, through July 13, 2025, for men’s competitions.
• CBS Sports Golazo Network and Paramount+ provided live coverage in the United States.
• This was the 69th edition of the award created by France Football in 1956.

Where Will Ballon d’Or 2025 Be Held?

The Venue

The Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris once again served as the host venue, maintaining its status as the recurring iconic site for recent Ballon d’Or ceremonies. Located in the heart of Paris, the theater has become synonymous with the awards since France Football established the modern ceremony format.

Broadcast and Accessibility

While the physical ceremony took place in Paris, worldwide coverage ensured global accessibility. In the United States, the event was broadcast live on the CBS Sports Golazo Network and streamed via Paramount+, allowing international audiences to witness the proceedings as they unfolded.

Ballon d’Or 2025 Nominees and Announcement Timeline

Nominee Announcement Date

France Football revealed the 30-man shortlist for the men’s Ballon d’Or on August 7, 2025. This announcement came approximately six weeks before the ceremony, providing analysts and fans extended time to evaluate the candidates’ merits compared to the 2024 timeline.

Notable Nominees and Frontrunners

The 2025 shortlist featured prominent names including Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona). Dembélé entered the ceremony as a heavy favorite following his performances in the Champions League, though the final voting remained confidential until the event.

Voting Process

Journalists from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries participated in voting for the men’s awards, while the top 50 nations selected representatives for the women’s categories. This democratic process, established decades ago, continues to lend credibility to the awards through professional journalistic assessment rather than public polling.

Ballon d’Or History and Recent Winners

The 2024 Controversy

The 2024 ceremony, held on October 28, saw Manchester City’s Rodri claim the men’s Ballon d’Or, with Barcelona Femení’s Aitana Bonmatí winning the women’s award. Rodri’s victory proved controversial, as many observers expected Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior to win. The perceived snub prompted Real Madrid players to skip the ceremony entirely, marking a significant moment in the award’s recent history.

Post-Messi/Ronaldo Era

Rodri’s 2024 win represented only the fourth non-Messi/Ronaldo victory in 17 years, following Luka Modrić (2018) and Karim Benzema (2022). This shift reflects the ongoing transition to a new generation of elite players, with Latest Football Scores BBC – Premier League and Cup Results showing the competitive balance across European leagues.

Ballon d’Or Ceremony Timeline: From Past to Present

1. 2025: September 22, Paris – 69th edition, expanded categories, September scheduling
2. 2024: October 28, Paris – Rodri (men) and Aitana Bonmatí (women) won; Real Madrid boycott
3. 2023: October 30, Paris – Lionel Messi won record eighth title
4. 2022: October 17, Paris – Karim Benzema won following Champions League success
5. 2021: November 29, Paris – Lionel Messi won seventh Ballon d’Or
6. 2019: December 2, Paris – Lionel Messi won sixth title
7. 2018: December 3, Paris – Luka Modrić broke Messi/Ronaldo dominance

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Uncertain?

The Significance of the 2025 Ceremony

The 2025 Ballon d’Or represented several evolutionary steps for football’s most prestigious individual honor. The shift from October to September scheduling reflected organizational changes under the France Football and UEFA partnership, potentially allowing the awards to cap the European club season rather than the international break.

Beyond scheduling, the introduction of the Johan Cruyff Trophy for coaching and the Sócrates Award for humanitarian impact acknowledged that football influence extends beyond pitch performance. These categories recognized the sport’s societal role and the strategic minds behind successful teams, aligning the ceremony with contemporary understandings of football success.

The continued residence at Théâtre du Châtelet reinforced Paris’s status as the spiritual home of the Ballon d’Or, even as voting panels became increasingly global. For fans tracking preseason form through resources like Leeds United vs Crystal Palace – Preview, H2H and Predictions, the ceremony provided a definitive conclusion to the previous campaign’s narrative.

Sources and Official Documentation

“The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony occurred on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France, marking the 69th edition co-organized by France Football and UEFA.”

— Sports Illustrated and UEFA Official Announcements

“Journalists from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries vote for the most prestigious individual award, focusing on exceptional achievements during the evaluation period.”

— UEFA Official Communications

Summary

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony was held on September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, marking the 69th edition with expanded categories and an earlier-than-usual date. Nominees were announced on August 7, 2025, with voting conducted by international journalists. The event was broadcast live on CBS Sports platforms in the United States and represented the continued evolution of football’s most prestigious individual awards under the co-organization of France Football and UEFA.

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