Event Details

• Ceremony: Golden Ball 2025 from France Football
• Date: ​ Monday, September 22, 2025
• Time: 12:00 hours (Central Mexico Time)
• Place: Theater​ of the Castle of ‍Paris
• Where to ⁢Watch: Claro‌ Sports

The Contenders and the controversy

The 2025 Golden Ball Gala is already generating notable discussion, fueled by reports suggesting Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Barcelona forward, is favored to win the award. This potential outcome has sparked debate, with some arguing that other players, such as ousmane dembélé, deserve recognition for their performance last season. Dembélé scored 35 goals in the previous ​campaign,a statistic cited by ‍those⁣ questioning Yamal’s selection.

The Golden Ball has historically been‌ dominated⁣ by ⁣Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have collectively won the⁤ award numerous times. Yamal’s potential victory would mark a shift in the landscape of the award, signaling the rise of a new generation of football stars. Messi has won the award a record eight times,while Ronaldo⁣ has seven.

Past Context of the Golden Ball

The ‌Golden Ball (Ballon d’Or) was first awarded in 1956 by France Football ‍ magazine. Initially, it recognized the best European player, but in 1995, the eligibility criteria were expanded to ⁣include‍ all players regardless of their nationality, provided that they played for a European club. The award has undergone ⁤several changes in its format and voting process over the years.

From ⁣2010⁢ to 2015, the Golden Ball was ⁢merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year award ‍to create the FIFA Ballon d’Or. Though,⁢ the partnership ended in 2016, and France‍ Football resumed awarding the Golden ball independently. The voting process involves ⁢a panel of journalists from around the world, who select the top players based on individual performance and collective achievements.

Lamine Yamal: ⁢A Rising Star

Lamine Yamal has quickly ⁣established himself as one of the most exciting ​young talents​ in world ⁣football.