The 2025 Golden Ball race accelerates. While the Club World Cup, scheduled between June 13 and July 14, promises a new world showcase for suitors in the supreme title, the shadow of the calendar hovers on the debates. Certain summer performances, however spectacular they may be, may well not weigh in the scale. What worry the supporters and followers of this prestigious individual trophy.
It's official: the 30 nominees for the male Ballon d'Or will be revealed on August 7. A key date, since the votes will already be closed, and therefore frozen, from the beginning of the month. Result: a highly anticipated European shock, scheduled for August 13 between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham, will not count in the final evaluation. This European Supercup, which opposes the winner of the Champions League and that of the Europa League, arrives too late in the process.
A final without impact: the Golden Ball already sealed
On the other hand, that fans are reassured: the Club World Cup will indeed be taken into account in the deliberations. This tournament, which appears in the new FIFA calendar this summer, could allow certain candidates still in the running to score valuable points. Ousmane Dembélé, although injured, remains concerned and could come back in the second round with PSG. Lamine Yamal has already put the crampons for the holidays, but his brilliant 2024/2025 campaign place among the favorites.
The Golden Ball race will ignore this European meeting
It is also useful to recall that the Ballon d'Or rewards a full season, here 2024-2025. Consequently, the matches played after the end of the season (Champions League Dams 2025-2026, European Super Cup, even certain preparation tours) have never been integrated into the criteria. On the other hand, the other summer competitions such as the Euro Hopes, the Women's Euro or the Club World Cup are perfectly eligible.
The trophy ceremony will take place on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Organized by France Football and UEFA, she will sacre the successors of Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí. And by then, the spotlights will be on the smallest performance of the favorites.
