2025 Ballon d’Or Ceremony Set for Paris This Monday

PARIS, France — The 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place this Monday, September 22, in Paris, where France Football will award the best footballers of the 2024-2025 season. This year, the event will introduce three new categories dedicated to women’s football: the Women’s Yashin Trophy, the Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy, and the Women’s Kopa Trophy.

The Ballon d’Or, awarded since 1956, is the highest honor a football player can achieve. Initially, it recognized only European players, which meant that legends like Pelé and Diego Maradona never won the prestigious award.

The ceremony will commence at 9:00 p.m. Central European Time at the Théâtre du Châtelet, and will be hosted by Ruud Gullit, a former Dutch football star and Ballon d’Or winner, alongside British journalist Kate Scott.

This year’s leading candidate for the award is Spanish player Lamine Yamal, who has garnered significant attention for his performance during the past season.

The ceremony will also be broadcast in various countries, with CBS Sports airing the event in the United States at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In Mexico, the gala will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be shown on TNT Sports, while Spanish viewers can watch it on MAX and Movistar+ at 9:00 p.m.

Among the accolades to be presented are the Men’s Ballon d’Or, Women’s Ballon d’Or, both Kopa Trophies, the Yashin Trophies for best goalkeepers, the Gerd Müller Trophies for top scorers, and the Johan Cruyff Trophies for best coaches. Additionally, the ceremony will recognize both the Men’s and Women’s Clubs of the Year.

As anticipation builds for the event, discussions swirl around who will win the coveted awards, with candidates from various teams vying for the prestigious titles.