Honestly, the Ballon d'Or ceremony 2025 felt like a fever dream for anyone who grew up watching Messi and Ronaldo trade the golden trophy back and forth like a playground toy. We are officially in a new world. The gala at the Théâtre du Châtelet on September 22, 2025, wasn't just a party; it was a full-blown coronation of the "post-GOAT" era.
If you weren't following the drama in Paris, you missed Ousmane Dembélé—yes, the guy everyone used to call "injury-prone"—breaking down in tears after winning the Men's Ballon d'Or. It was a massive moment. He basically carried Paris Saint-Germain to their first-ever Champions League title and a historic quadruple.
The Shocking Rankings of the Ballon d'Or Ceremony 2025
Most people expected a tight race, but the point gap was actually pretty wild. Dembélé finished with 1,380 points, leaving the teenage phenom Lamine Yamal in second place with 1,059. It’s kinda crazy to think that Yamal, at just 18, was almost the youngest winner in history.
The podium was rounded out by Vitinha, which tells you everything you need to know about PSG's dominance last season. If you're a Liverpool fan, you're probably still annoyed. Mohamed Salah finished fourth despite leading Europe in combined goals and assists. It feels like the "voter fatigue" people talk about with Salah is real.
Where the Big Stars Landed
The rest of the top 10 was a mix of "I told you so" and "Wait, really?"
- Raphinha (5th): His resurgence at Barcelona was the comeback story of the year.
- Achraf Hakimi (6th): Proving that fullbacks can actually compete for these things.
- Kylian Mbappé (7th): A relatively "quiet" year by his standards after moving to Madrid.
- Cole Palmer (8th): The highest-ranked English player. Cold.
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (9th): He actually moved to Manchester City shortly after his PSG heroics.
- Nuno Mendes (10th): Another PSG mainstay.
One of the biggest talking points? Vinícius Júnior. After the heartbreak of 2024, he plummeted to 16th place. Real Madrid's lack of silverware in the 2024-25 campaign basically tanked his chances.
Aitana’s Three-Peat and Women's Football History
While the men's side was all about new faces, the women's award was a masterclass in consistency. Aitana Bonmatí did it again. She scooped her third consecutive Ballon d'Or Féminin, a feat only matched by legends like Michel Platini and Lionel Messi.
"I never thought when I was a kid that I could achieve this because I didn't think women's football could exist," she said during her speech. It was heavy. Even though Barcelona lost the Champions League final 1-0 to Arsenal, Aitana was still the best player on the planet.
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But look at the runners-up. Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey took second, and Alessia Russo took third. The Lionesses had a huge night because Sarina Wiegman won the Johan Cruyff Trophy for best women's coach after England won the Euros in Switzerland.
The Awards You Probably Missed
The Ballon d'Or ceremony 2025 also introduced some new vibes to the trophy cabinet. For the first time, we had a Women's Yashin Trophy. Hannah Hampton took that home, and the image of her hugging Mary Earps on stage was basically the "passing of the torch" moment for England fans.
Lamine Yamal didn't leave empty-handed, obviously. He won his second Kopa Trophy. He's the first person to ever win it twice. At this rate, he’s going to need a bigger trophy room before he’s 21.
Then there was the Gerd Müller Trophy. Viktor Gyökeres won the men's version. The guy was a literal cheat code for Sporting CP and then Arsenal, bagging 63 goals in a single season. On the women's side, Ewa Pajor took the striker's award after scoring 48 times for Barcelona.
Why the 2025 Results Matter for the Future
The 2025 ceremony proved that the "new" criteria—focusing on individual performance and "decisive moments" over just career reputation—is actually working. France Football's editor-in-chief made it clear: they want to reward the here and now.
It's why Rodri wasn't even nominated (he was out with an ACL injury for most of the season) and why veteran names like Harry Kane (13th) and Robert Lewandowski (17th) are sliding down the list.
The biggest takeaway? Paris Saint-Germain is finally the center of the footballing universe, at least for this year. They won Men's Club of the Year, while Arsenal took the Women's Club of the Year.
What you should do next:
If you want to keep track of the 2026 race, start watching the Champions League knockout stages closely. The voters in the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries have shifted their focus almost entirely toward who performs in April and May. Keep an eye on the "Socrates Award" winners too, as humanitarian work is becoming a larger part of the gala's identity, with the Xana Foundation taking the honors this year.