Ballon d'Or 2025 in Paris Marks First Equal Awards for Men, Women

The 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, scheduled for September 22 in Paris, will mark a historic milestone by awarding an equal number of trophies to male and female footballers, with six categories each, including new awards for best women's goalkeeper, best young women's player, and top women's scorer. This change reflects a growing commitment to gender parity and greater recognition of women's football on the global stage, with UEFA collaborating alongside France Football to ensure the event does not conflict with international women's matches. The ceremony will be held at the Theatre du Chatelet and will also feature the Socrates Award for social commitment, open to all genders. Additionally, the football community eagerly anticipates the nominations announcement in August, with players like Barcelona's Lamine Yamal highlighted as favorites for the men's awards. This inclusive approach follows controversy from last year's event, where Real Madrid boycotted after their star player lost the top prize. The 2025 event promises a balanced and historic celebration of football excellence for both men and women.