As excitement builds for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, UEFA has announced new voting criteria aimed at refining how football’s top individual honour is awarded. The ceremony will be held on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
The revised criteria, confirmed by L’Équipe, emphasize three key pillars:
- Individual Performances – assessing brilliance and influence on the pitch.
- Collective Success – titles won with club and country.
- Sportsmanship and Fair Play – recognising integrity and spirit.
UEFA aims to crown the best player “based on true merit,” reducing the influence of past achievements.
With key tournaments like the UEFA Nations League and Club World Cup still ahead, the 2025 race remains wide open. Last year’s winner, Rodri, triumphed due to standout performances for Manchester City and Spain. Contenders this year include Kylian Mbappé, who, despite a trophyless season at Real Madrid so far, remains in the running.
Meanwhile, players not involved in the remaining major tournaments, such as Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha, and Lewandowski, may face limited chances.
In a major move toward inclusivity, UEFA has also confirmed that all male awards will now have female counterparts, underscoring its commitment to gender equality in football.
