Historic Milestone: Ballon d'Or 2025 to Feature Equal Recognition for Men and Women

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled for September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, marks a significant milestone in the world of football. For the first time in its history, the prestigious awards will feature an equal number of categories for both men and women, reflecting a commitment to gender equality in the sport.

New Categories for Women

To achieve this balance, three new awards have been introduced for women:

Best Women’s Goalkeeper: Recognizing the top female goalkeeper of the year.

Best Young Women’s Player: Honoring the most outstanding young female talent.

Top Women’s Scorer: Awarded to the leading goal scorer in women’s club or national team football.

These additions bring the total number of awards to six for both men and women. Additionally, the prestigious Socrates Award, which honors individuals promoting solidarity and social good, will remain open to both genders.

A More Inclusive Ceremony

The scheduling of the ceremony on September 22 ensures that it does not clash with international match dates in women’s soccer, allowing more female nominees to attend. UEFA, which has co-organized the event with France Football since last year, expressed pride in expanding recognition to include these new categories, celebrating the achievements of female players.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to be a historic event, showcasing the evolving landscape of football and the increasing recognition of women’s contributions to the sport. As the nominees are announced in early August, the football world eagerly anticipates the celebration of excellence across both men’s and women’s football.

Written By Fortune Davidson