Lamine Yamal lifts the Kopa Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, marking a milestone in his young career (Photo: X | alimo_philip)
On 22 September 2025, the most prestigious ceremony in football the Ballon d'Or ceremony held in Paris at the Theatre du Chatelet. The honor of individual and team performance at their best in football is held on a night in which the eminent Ballon d'Or will continue to stand with enormous gravity in the height of excellence in football.
One hundred years after the first awarding of the Ballon d'Or, in 1956, it now happens to be one of the most prestigious those in the sport. The annual receipt is given by France Football into the best male and female sounds in football in the land.
This award has transformed into a spectacle worldwide, with the inclusion of other awards, namely the Kopa Trophy (best player under 21) and Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper) which highlight different aspects of the sport.
The event in the midst of the Kopa Trophy honoring the best player under the category of 21 years, on the 2025 ceremony saw Barcelona's teenage star Lamine Yamal. The young star has already made waves in the football with incredible performances for both his team in Barcelona and the squad at the national level with Spain. The Kopa victory for Yamal is not a personal victory but a representation of the growing talent in football across the planet.
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Arsenal FC was awarded the Women's Club of the Year and earned this prestigious honor through their win in the UEFA Women's Champions League, a decent WSL season and a record league attendance at the Emirates. Arsenal's triumph symbolizes the growth and increasing visibility of women's football on the world stage.
The first Yashin Trophy for women was given to England's Hannah Hampton with some breathtaking efforts sprouting from this player, winning the WSL title for Chelsea and a landmark victory in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025. Through the heroics of Hampton in the penalty shootout of the final against Spain, she enhances credit in defining her stature as world's best keeper.
On the award level of women also it's Gianluigi Donnarumma from Italy who stole the Yashin Trophy from the contest owing to an outstanding season with Paris Saint-Germain. Now he can talk about titles that include Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Champions League, one from UEFA Super Cup.
Luis Enrique, coach of Paris-Saint-Germain, won for the men the Johan Cruyff Trophy of Coach of the Year. Under such direction PSG has recorded a historic treble Ligue 1 title, the very first-ever UEFA Champions League win and the UEFA Super Cup. Enrique's tactical melodies from the touchline have made PSG a powerhouse in the European football landscape.
The Lionesses head coach, Sarina Wiegman, was awarded the rewards for the women Johan Cruyff Trophy after guiding the Lionesses to absolute glory in the 2025 UEFA Women's Euro. The tactical nous was on display once more when England triumphed over Spain in the end of extra time in a nail biting penalty shootout, defending their title as European champions. The Wiegman's success continues raising the profile of women's football around the world.
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The rankings for the men's Ballon d'Or were revealed with several emerging stars making their mark. It had some well-known names along with some up and coming players including Pedri of Barcelona, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Paris Saint-Germain and Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal. The competition is set to be fierce, and the final top ten will surely be quite a spectacle at the end of the evening's festivities.
A powerful array of athletes is revealed in the rankings for the women's Ballon d'Or and many of those include individual performances at the club level and recognition at the national level players such as those at Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, at Chelsea's Hannah Hampton and at Arsenal's Alessia Russo are some of the athletes still pursuing glory at this coveted award. The growing depth and expansion within the women's game continue to amaze, with new waves of players breaking through every year.
| YEAR | PLAYER | CLUB |
| 2018 | Kylian Mbappe | PSG |
| 2019 | Matthijs de Ligt | Juventus |
| 2021 | Pedri | Barcelona |
| 2022 | Gavi | Barcelona |
| 2023 | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid |
| 2024 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
| 2025 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
The 69th Ballon d'Or celebration is a compelling reminder of the extraordinary talent and dedication present in the world of football.
From record breaking performances to historic victories, the winners in this night truly depict what the sport stands with young promising players like Lamine Yamal rising and experienced tacticians such as Sarina Wiegman leading their teams into the sunset and football's future is undoubtedly held with exceptional hands.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on the latest updates from the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony and is intended for informational purposes only.
