The shortlist for world football's most prestigious individual award has been revealed ahead of the ceremony in Paris on September 22
It's been a few years since the winner of the Ballon d'Or Feminin has felt as difficult to predict as it does in 2025. There is a great handful of contenders who would be deserving of the award, as a result of outstanding seasons for club and country. But there can, of course, only be one winner – and we are now one step closer to finding out who that will be, following the announcement of this year’s nominees.
Will the Ballon d'Or belong to Aitana Bonmati for the third year in a row? The midfielder has scooped up plenty of individual awards throughout the year, having helped Barcelona win a domestic treble and Spain reach the Euro 2025 final. Alexia Putellas, winner of the Golden Ball in 2021 and 2022, is also right up there in the mix after her contributions for the Catalans and La Roja. Or perhaps the award could be given to someone from the Arsenal side that defeated Barca in the Champions League final, such as Mariona Caldentey, or one of the Lionesses who helped down Spain in the final of the Euros, like Alessia Russo.
We will have to wait until the ceremony in Paris on Monday, September 22 to find out, but for now, here are the players who have been shortlisted for football's ultimate individual honour…
Getty ImagesSandy Baltimore (Chelsea)
Baltimore enjoyed a fantastic first season at Chelsea, playing a key role as the Blues won all three domestic honours on offer without losing a single game. That was despite her playing in a left-back position for most of the campaign, rather than in her usual spot in the forward line. The 25-year-old still managed nine goals and six assists in all competitions, with her outstanding performance in the FA Cup final a particular highlight.
AdvertisementImagn ImagesBarbra Banda (Orlando Pride)
Banda has been in excellent form since the new NWSL season started in March, scoring eight goals in her first 14 games, but the end of her 2024 campaign also counts towards the Ballon d'Or. That's particularly significant as it includes the period in which the forward helped fire the Orlando Pride to the NWSL Shield and a first-ever NWSL Championship.
Getty ImagesAitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
After winning the Ballon d'Or in 2023 and 2024, Bonmati has a great case to do so again in 2025. She was named Player of the Tournament at Euro 2025, after helping Spain reach the final, and also won the Best Player award in the Champions League last season, in which Barcelona reached the final. Neither of those games saw Bonmati finish on the winning side, with England and Arsenal victorious respectively, but she did play a huge part in Barca's domestic treble.
AFPLucy Bronze (Chelsea)
Bronze was one of England's best players at Euro 2025, with her performance in the quarter-final win over Sweden a particular highlight as the Lionesses defended their title. Those displays came off the back of a terrific season at Chelsea, too, where the full-back was a key player in the Blues' domestic treble, scoring the goal that sealed their sixth Women's Super League title in a row.