Ballon d’Or 2025 Date: A Crucial Change for Female Football Players
The Ballon d’Or ceremony, the event that awards the most outstanding footballers at an individual level, has announced a new date for its 2025 edition. This modification seeks to ensure the presence of the nominees in the women’s category.
The awards gala will take place on September 22 in Paris, according to UEFA.
This date change avoids coinciding with the international commitments of women’s soccer, when the players are concentrated with their national teams.
Aitana Bonmatí is one of the winners of the Ballon d’Or.
UEFA, which organizes the event together with the publishing house that owns the magazine “France Football”, has expressed its pride in expanding recognition to female footballers. Three new categories celebrating the achievements of the players will be included.
“We are proud to expand our recognition to include three new categories that celebrate the achievements of the players,” said UEFA.
UEFA
In previous editions, the players and coaches had criticized the organization due to the impossibility of attending the ceremony in Paris.
The coach of the United States women’s national team, Emma Hayes, criticized the Ballon d’Or ceremony for coinciding with the FIFA women’s international match window.
The previous ceremonies were held on October 30, 2023 and October 28, 2024, on Mondays that did not coincide with matches of the men’s Champions League or national teams.
“It would be like celebrating the Oscars or the Golden Globes without any women present,” Hayes commented last year. “I think, too often, they are considered an afterthought, to be honest.”
Emma Hayes
On September 22, the date chosen for the next edition, is a Monday free of Champions League matches and World Cup 2026 qualifying rounds, for both men and women.
In the latest edition, the winners of the Ballon d’Or were Rodri, midfielder for Manchester City, and Aitana Bonmatí, Barcelona player, who had already won the award the previous year.
The new women’s categories will award the best young player, the best goalkeeper, and the top scorer from clubs and national teams.
Nominations for the 2025 awards will be announced in August, according to UEFA.
