The 2025 Ballon d'Or is officially in the books, and honestly, the night was a wild ride that felt like the definitive end of the Messi-Ronaldo era. If you were trying to catch the ballon d'or 2025 time cst live, you had to be ready by 1:00 PM CST for the red carpet, with the main gala kicking off at 2:00 PM CST on Monday, September 22.
Paris was buzzing. The Théâtre du Châtelet looked incredible under the lights, but the real drama wasn't just on the stage. It was the fact that for the first time in forever, the winner felt like a genuine toss-up until the very last second.
What went down at the Ballon d'Or 2025 time CST kickoff
When the clock hit 2:00 PM in Chicago and Dallas, fans across the Central United States tuned into Paramount+ and the CBS Sports Golazo Network. They saw Ousmane Dembélé make history. It's kinda crazy when you think about it—a guy who was once written off as a "flop" at Barcelona just became the first French player to win the award since Karim Benzema.
Dembélé’s season with Paris Saint-Germain was essentially a highlight reel. He led them to a historic treble, including that elusive first Champions League trophy. People usually talk about his speed, but his 34 goals and tactical maturity under Luis Enrique were what actually sealed the deal.
The Lamine Yamal factor
You've probably heard the hype, and yeah, it’s real. Lamine Yamal, at just 18, finished second. He didn't just show up; he dominated. He also walked away with his second consecutive Kopa Trophy. That’s never been done before. He’s basically the heir apparent to the throne, and honestly, if Barcelona had gone a bit further in Europe, we might be talking about a different winner today.
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The 2025 Winners List
The night wasn't just about the men's big prize. The parity this year was a massive step forward, with equal awards across the board.
- Men’s Ballon d’Or: Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)
- Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona) — her third in a row!
- Kopa Trophy (Best U21): Lamine Yamal (Men), Vicky López (Women)
- Yashin Trophy (Best GK): Gianluigi Donnarumma (Men), Hannah Hampton (Women)
- Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Scorer): Viktor Gyökeres (Men), Ewa Pajor (Women)
- Johan Cruyff Trophy (Best Coach): Luis Enrique (Men), Jonatan Giráldez (Women)
Why the Ballon d'Or 2025 time CST mattered for US fans
Soccer in the States is hitting a different level of mainstream. Because the ceremony happened mid-day on a Monday for most of us, plenty of people were "working" while actually having a second tab open for the live stream.
The broadcasting was handled by CBS Sports, with Kate Scott and Ruud Gullit hosting. They kept it lively, though some of the translated interviews were a bit clunky as per usual. If you missed the live window, the full replay stayed up on the L’Équipe YouTube channel, which is where most of the global audience flocked anyway.
The Real Madrid "No Show" echoes
Remember 2024? The whole Vinícius Júnior and Rodri drama where Madrid boycotted the event? This year was much smoother, though Vinícius fell significantly in the rankings to 15th place. Most of that was due to an injury-plagued season. It's sort of a "what have you done for me lately" award, and the voters clearly prioritized the Champions League winners at PSG.
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Surprises and "What Ifs" from the ceremony
One of the biggest shocks was seeing Mohamed Salah climb back into the top five. He had a monstrous year at Liverpool under Arne Slot, matching the Premier League record for goal involvements (47). He was the "rocket fuel" for Liverpool’s 20th league title.
Then there’s Vitinha. He’s the engine that nobody talks about enough. He finished 6th, which is huge for a midfielder who doesn't post massive goal numbers. It shows the jury is finally looking at "possession dominance" rather than just who tapped in the most goals.
Logistics you should know for next time
If you're planning for future ceremonies, keep these time zones in your notes:
- Eastern Time (ET): 3:00 PM
- Central Time (CT/CST): 2:00 PM
- Mountain Time (MT): 1:00 PM
- Pacific Time (PT): 12:00 PM
The event almost always takes place in late September or October now, aligning with the "European Season" format (August to July) rather than the calendar year. This year’s voting period specifically covered August 1, 2024, to the Club World Cup final on July 13, 2025.
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Actionable Takeaways for Soccer Fans
If you want to keep up with the 2026 race, which is already starting to heat up, here is what you need to do:
- Watch the Champions League knockouts: This is where 80% of the "Ballon d'Or moments" happen. If a player disappears in the Quarter-finals, they aren't winning the gold ball.
- Monitor the "New" Stars: Keep an eye on Cole Palmer and Viktor Gyökeres. They were the biggest risers this year and are likely to be top-three contenders for 2026.
- Check the official France Football site: They usually drop the 30-man shortlist in early August. Mark your calendars for August 5-10, 2026.
The era of the "Big Two" is dead. We are now in a world where a winger from PSG, a kid from Barca, and a striker from Sporting CP are all legitimate kings of the hill. It makes the sport a lot more fun to watch, even if you have to sneak a peek at the stream during your Monday afternoon meetings.
To stay ahead, make sure your Paramount+ subscription is active by August of next year, as they hold the exclusive US English-language rights for the ceremony through 2026. You can also follow the @ballondor official X (formerly Twitter) account for real-time rank reveals leading up to the gala.