Ballon d'Or 2025 Live Updates: Dembele and Yamal Shine as Paris Ceremony Unfolds

The football world is electric tonight as the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony lights up the Théâtre du Châtelet, honoring the game's brightest stars in men's and women's categories. With the red carpet dazzling and the main event underway, Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona's prodigy Lamine Yamal lead a fiercely competitive men's race. Stay with our live coverage for every moment, from star-studded arrivals to the final golden ball reveal.

Stars like Dembele and Yamal steal the spotlight on the 2025 Ballon d'Or red carpet in Paris.

Ceremony Schedule: When and Where to Tune In

The gala is in full swing under Paris's iconic glow. Here's the global timetable:

• Red Carpet Start: 2 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. BST / 8 p.m. CEST / 11:30 p.m. IST
• Main Ceremony: 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST / 9 p.m. CEST / 12:30 a.m. IST (Sep 23)
• Duration: Roughly two hours of awards, speeches, and surprises.

Back in its traditional October slot after last year's shake-up, the 2025 ceremony blends high drama with tributes to football's finest.

How to Watch: Free Streams and Broadcast Details

No fan needs to miss out – the ceremony streams live and free worldwide on L'Équipe's YouTube channel, covering every moment from red carpet glamour to the final awards. Geo-restrictions may apply in some regions; a VPN can help bypass them.

• United States: Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network (red carpet at 2 p.m. ET, ceremony at 3 p.m.).
• United Kingdom: L'Équipe YouTube or the official Ballon d'Or platform.
• Global Options: UEFA.tv in select markets; check beIN Sports or ESPN for Europe and Latin America.

Tip: Start streaming early to catch Mbappe's sharp suit or Yamal's youthful swagger on the carpet.

Nominees: The 2025 Contenders

France Football's shortlist dropped earlier this summer, featuring 30 men and 15 women vying for glory. Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí aims to defend her women's title, while the men's field is stacked with veterans and breakout stars. Other awards include the Kopa Trophy (best U-21) and Yashin Award (top goalkeeper).

Men's standout nominees:

• Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (PSG/France), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain), Raphinha (Barcelona/Brazil), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/France).
• Midfielders: Vitinha (PSG/Portugal), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England), Fabian Ruiz (PSG/Spain).
• Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (PSG/Morocco), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool/Netherlands).
• Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool/Brazil), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid/Belgium).

Power Rankings: Top 10 Men's Contenders

With votes from global journalists being counted, our rankings combine goals, assists, trophies, and impact, drawn from stats and expert insights. Dembele's Ligue 1 dominance and PSG's treble chase give him the edge, but Yamal's Euro 2024 heroics make it close.

1. Ousmane Dembele (PSG) – 28 goals, 22 assists; Ligue 1 MVP.
2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – Euro 2024 star; 18 goals in La Liga.
3. Vitinha (PSG) – Midfield engine with 15 assists.
4. Raphinha (Barcelona) – Champions League clutch performer.
5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – Premier League's 25+ goal machine.
6. Desire Doue (PSG) – Breakout star with 12 goals off the bench.
7. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) – 20 goals in La Liga transition.
8. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli) – Serie A dazzler.
9. Nuno Mendes (PSG) – Defensive wall.
10. Achraf Hakimi (PSG) – Dynamic wing-back.

Prediction: Dembele leads with 45% odds, but Yamal's youth and flair could echo Messi's early triumphs. For the women, Bonmatí faces stiff competition from Chelsea's Alessia Russo.

Live Blog: Real-Time Updates from Paris

• 7:15 p.m. BST / 11:45 p.m. IST: Red carpet sizzles – Dembele beams confidently, Yamal snaps selfies with Bellingham. #BallonDor trends explode online.
• 7:30 p.m. BST / 12:00 a.m. IST: Rumors of a Dembele "leak" swirl on social media, but insiders call it speculation.
• 8:00 p.m. BST / 12:30 a.m. IST: Ceremony kicks off. Yashin Trophy to Courtois? We’ll know soon.
• Social Media Pulse: Fans are split – "Yamal's the future!" clashes with "Dembele's year!" A viral clip celebrates Raphinha's "equalizer legacy."

Keep refreshing for winner announcements – will PSG dominate the podium?

As the envelopes open, the 2025 Ballon d'Or captures football's thrilling evolution. Who’ll claim the golden ball? We’re glued to every second.