The organisers of football’s most prestigious individual honour, the Ballon d’Or, have outlined the three key criteria that will determine the winner of the 2025 award.
France Football CEO Vincent Garcia confirmed that he is the only person who currently knows the identity of the winner ahead of Monday night’s ceremony.
According to Garcia, the decision is based on:
Individual performances – decisive and impressive displays.
Titles achieved – domestic and international trophies won.
Fair play – behaviour both on and off the pitch.
This year’s race is expected to come down to Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal, who have both enjoyed standout seasons.
Manchester City’s Rodri is the current holder of the Ballon d’Or after edging Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior in 2024.
The 2025 edition is set to be one of the most closely contested in recent years, with football fans eagerly awaiting the announcement of who will claim the game’s biggest individual prize.
