Ballon d’Or 2025: Mbappé, Yamal, Dembele Lead Fierce Race as France Football Unveils Shortlist

|By Babatunji Wusu

France Football has unveiled the highly anticipated shortlist for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, with global football giants Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, and Ousmane Dembele emerging as frontrunners for the prestigious individual honour.

The list, revealed Thursday across France Football’s social media platforms, features standout performers selected by top football journalists from around the world.

Also making the cut are Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund), and Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan).

This year’s race is shaping up to be one of the most tightly contested yet, with young sensation Yamal, playmaker Dembele, and Galactico signing Mbappé tipped as the main contenders.

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where the world’s football elite will gather to witness the crowning of this year’s best player.