The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, set for September 22 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, will mark a historic milestone with an equal number of awards presented to male and female players, organizers announced Monday.
This year’s ceremony will feature six awards each for men and women, reflecting a commitment to gender equality in football. New categories have been introduced for women, including best goalkeeper, best young player, and top scorer for club or national team, broadening the recognition of female talent on the global stage.
In addition to the player awards, the prestigious Socrates Award—honoring individuals promoting solidarity—will be open to both men and women.
The nominees for the various categories will be revealed in early August, building anticipation ahead of the ceremony.
Last year’s event was notably marred by controversy, as Real Madrid boycotted following the announcement that their Brazilian star Vinicius Junior lost out on the best men’s player award to Manchester City’s Rodri. Organizers are hopeful that this year’s expanded and balanced recognition will be celebrated without dispute.
