The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony will happen on September 22 at Paris’ Théâtre du Châtelet, with anticipation constructing as a number of contenders look to win the award for the primary time. Forward of the gala, France Soccer’s editor-in-chief has laid out the factors that can decide the winner.
In an interview with Téléfoot, France Soccer editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia defined how the choice is made: “I’m the one one that is aware of the winner of the Ballon d’Or. The standards for successful this award are: particular person efficiency, decisive and spectacular moments, titles received, in addition to honest play and habits on and off the pitch.”
Lately, successful main trophies such because the UEFA Champions League has typically tipped the stability in Ballon d’Or voting. However final 12 months, when Rodri beat out Vinícius Júnior regardless of Actual Madrid’s UCL triumph, the factors drew heavy debate amongst followers.
Garcia clarified that past statistics and titles, intangibles will play a job. The participant’s affect in key moments and conduct on and off the sphere additionally matter, an element that reportedly labored in opposition to Vinícius in 2024.
After lacking almost all the 2024-25 season attributable to harm, Rodri won’t be repeating as Ballon d’Or winner in 2025.
Garcia additionally revealed that not like in earlier years, the winner of the 2025 version won’t be told upfront. Historically, the Ballon d’Or recipient was notified earlier than the ceremony. This time, solely France Soccer executives know the result.
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2025 Ballon d’Or: How the voting works?
France Soccer launched the 30-player shortlist on August 7. From there, the voting is carried out by 100 journalists representing the 100 highest-ranked international locations within the FIFA rankings, every making use of the factors Garcia outlined.
Each journalist selects 5 gamers, assigning factors on a 6-4-3-2-1 scale. The participant with the very best complete wins. Within the case of a tie, the rely of first-place votes determines the winner, adopted by second-place votes, and so forth till the impasse is damaged.
2025 Ballon d’Or high contenders
The 2024-25 season has produced a number of breakout stars who now discover themselves in competition. FC Barcelona’s Raphinha and Lamine Yamal led their membership to a dominant marketing campaign in Spain and a Champions League semifinal run. In the meantime, Ousmane Dembélé has emerged as one of many favorites after topping the charts for objective contributions with Paris Saint-Germain, who went on to carry the European trophy.
