The shifting rules behind football's most prestigious individual honour
In short: For the fourth time in history, the Ballon d'Or has abandoned the calendar year. This change fundamentally alters how we measure greatness, shifting the focus from a single year's achievements to the specific rhythm of the 2024–25 competitive season.
The 2025 Ballon d'Or, the 69th annual ceremony hosted by France Football, represents a significant departure from traditional measurement. While the award was historically tied to a calendar year, the 2025 edition evaluated performance based on the 2024–25 season. For the men's category, this window spanned from 1 August 2024 to 13 July 2025, concluding with the FIFA Club World Cup final. The women's evaluation period extended slightly further, ending on 2 August 2025 following the Copa América Femenina final.
The scale of the nominations reflects the global breadth of the sport. The ceremony, which took place on 22 September 2025, featured 30 nominees for both the Men's and Women's Ballon d'Or. Beyond the primary awards, the event recognised specialised excellence through various trophies. These included the Kopa Trophy, with 10 male and 5 female nominees, and the Yashin Trophy, which highlighted 10 male and 5 female goalkeepers. Coaching excellence was also spotlighted, with five nominees each for the Men's and Women's Johan Cruyff Trophies.
The ceremony also serves as a platform for values beyond pure athleticism. In collaboration with Peace and Sport, France Football presents the Sócrates Award. Named after the late Brazilian footballer who helped lead the Corinthians Democracy movement against Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1980s, the award recognises exceptional humanitarian efforts by players. This dual focus on sporting prowess and social impact remains a cornerstone of the event's identity.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 Ballon d'Or
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