Ballon d’Or 2025: How the Winner Is Chosen and Which Criteria Matter

The Ballon d’Or will always be a topic of conversation that sparks divided opinions. It is an individual football award given to the “best footballer” within a competitive period, a prestigious golden trophy presented by France Football magazine, but its criteria extend beyond mere numbers or on-field performances. The big question is whether these criteria are truly fair.

How Is the Ballon d’Or Winner Chosen?

The voting process relies on 100 journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries, who select the winner of the men’s category and the Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper). For the Kopa Trophy (best young player), the jury consists solely of living former Ballon d’Or winners.

The nomination process has its own structure: journalists from L’Équipe and France Football choose 30 male candidates, 20 female candidates, and 10 candidates each for the Yashin Trophy and Kopa Trophy.

Recent Changes to the Ballon d’Or Rules

Until 2021, the Ballon d’Or rewarded performance over a calendar year. Since 2022, it recognizes the best footballer of the season, which for this edition covers July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

Another significant change is the reduction in voting countries: only the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries vote in the men’s category, while the top 50 countries vote in the women’s category. Currently, the men’s trophy is held by Rodrigo Hernández (Rodri), and the women’s by Aitana Bonmatí.

What Is Evaluated in the Candidates?

France Football outlines three key criteria for determining the Ballon d’Or winner:

Individual and decisive performance: Goals, assists, statistics, influence on the game, and consistency throughout the season.

Collective successes and team achievements: Titles won at club and international levels, and the player’s role in those successes.

Fair play and public image: Behavior on and off the pitch, including sportsmanship and charitable actions.

Within this framework, the 2025 Ballon d’Or not only honors the most outstanding footballer of the season but also the one who embodies the values of the sport, combining talent, commitment, and ethics both on and off the field.