Paris is buzzing tonight as the red carpet at the Théâtre du Châtelet welcomes football’s biggest names for the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards. The official Ballon d’Or account shared clips earlier, showing fans and players arriving in large numbers, setting the tone for what many are calling one of the tightest races in years.
They also posted a video of the Award arriving the venue on their official X account as presented by two beautiful kids, who walked up the red carpet presenting the awards in front of journalists.
Watch the video below:
There’s no runaway favourite this time. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been outstanding, Barcelona’s Raphinha has carried big-game form, and 18-year-old Lamine Yamal is already being tipped as the future of world football. Add Ousmane Dembélé, fresh from a stellar season with Paris Saint-Germain, and the debate about who deserves the golden ball becomes even more heated, Softfootball already reported that Lamine Yamal has arrived the venue with his Family and time will tell if he is going to lift the awards following rumours that he might win the award, PSG president Al Khelafi is also present at the venue as reported earlier.
Rodri, last year’s winner, won’t feature in the discussion after an ACL injury kept him out for much of the campaign. His absence leaves the spotlight on others, and with no clear front-runner, anticipation has gone through the roof.
Real Madrid, who famously boycotted last year’s ceremony after news of Rodri’s win leaked ahead of the event, are back in attendance. Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, and Kylian Mbappé are all nominated, but insiders suggest the trio are unlikely to make the podium this year.
On the women’s side, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí is chasing her third straight Ballon d’Or Féminin. She has dominated both for club and country and could become the first woman to win three in a row. Her consistency and influence make her the player to beat once again.
With legends, young stars, and football royalty all gathered in Paris, tonight’s gala could deliver surprises. Whether history is made or a new name joins the list of winners, the 2025 Ballon d’Or promises drama and celebration in equal measure.
