By Taiwo Ibrahim
Ousmane Dembele, Mohammed Salah, Achraf Hakimi, and 27 other players have been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards.
Dembele enjoyed a prolific season for PSG with 35 goals, and 16 assists in all competitions, and leading the club to an historic treble in the 2024-25 season.
He is the favourite to win the award following a successful year for the French Champions.
Three African players, Mohammed Salah, Achraf Hakimi, and Serhou Guirassy were nominated for the award to cap off a brilliant season.
Salah led Liverpool to the Premier League title with 34 goals, and 23 assists in all competitions for his second title in England.
Achraf Hakimi, who is the favourite to win the 2025 African Player of the year award, was impressive for PSG last season, playing a vital role in their historic triumph with 11 goals, and 16 assists in all competitions.
Guinea forward Serhou Guirassy enjoyed a prolific season with Dortmund, scoring 38 goals while recording nine assists in all competitions to lead the club to a fourth place finish in the Bundesliga.
Barcelona’s new kid on the block, Lamine Yamal was nominated following his breathtaking season that culminated in 18 goals, and 25 assists in all competitions.
Barcelona, Botafogo, Chelsea, Liverpool, Paris St-Germain were nominated for the club of the year award.
Antonio Conte (Napoli),Luis Enrique (PSG), Hansi Flick (Barcelona), Enzo Maresca (Chelsea), Arne Slot (Liverpool) were all nominated for the Johan Cruyff coach of the year award.
The likes of Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa and Argentina), Alisson Becker (Liverpool and Brazil), Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal and Morocco), Lucas Chevalier (Lille and France), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid and Belgium), Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG and Italy), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid and Slovenia), David Raya (Arsenal and Spain), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest and Belgium), Yann Sommer (Inter Milan and Switzerland) will battle it out for the goalkeeper of the year award.
Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona and Spain), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille and France), Desire Doue (PSG and France), Estevao (Chelsea and Brazil), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid and Spain), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal and England), Rodrigo Mora (Porto and Portugal), Joao Neves (PSG and Portugal), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus and Turkey) are all in contention for the Kopa trophy, which is awarded to the best male player under the age of 21.
No Nigerian player made it to the 30-man nominees in the men’s category, however, Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie was nominated for the goalkeeper of the year award in the women’s category.
Super Falcons coach, Justine Madugu was also nominated for the coach of the year in the women’s category.
Nominees for 2025 Ballon d’Or award
Ousmane Dembele (Paris St-Germain), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris St-Germain), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Desire Doue (Paris St-Germain), Denzel Dumfries (Inter), Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal), Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris St-Germain), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain), Joao Neves (Paris St-Germain), Pedri (Barcelona), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Raphinha (Barcelona), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (Paris St-Germain), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Vitinha (Paris St-Germain), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
