Julien Laurens
European football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Ousmane Dembele has been the best player, in the best team, in the world.

What PSG achieved in the Champions League, and even what they achieved in the Uefa Super Cup against Tottenham, in the league as well, the consistency that he showed since December with the goals and the assists.

He has become a special player and he deserves the Ballon d'Or.

That leaves the following in the running for the main prize:

Ousmane Dembele (Paris St-Germain, France)

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris St-Germain/Manchester City, Italy)

Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain, Morocco)

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)

Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)

Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain, Portugal)

Raphinha (Barcelona, Brazil)

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)

Vitinha (Paris St-Germain, Portugal)

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)

Ballon d'Or

And here's who finished between 11th and 30th in the men's award.

11. Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)

12. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli/Paris St-Germain, Georgia)

13. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)

14. Desire Doue (Paris St-Germain, France)

15. Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting/Arsenal, Sweden)

16. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Brazil)

17. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland)

18. Scott McTominay (Napoli, Scotland)

19. Joao Neves (Paris St-Germain, Portugal)

20. Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Argentina)

21. Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund, Guinea)

22. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, Argentina)

23. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)

24. Fabian Ruiz (Paris St-Germain, Spain)

25. Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan, Netherlands)

26. Erling Haaland (Man City, Norway)

27. Declan Rice (Arsenal, England)

28. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)

29. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen/Liverpool, Germany)

30. Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, skipper Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson are all here representing the reigning champions of England.

No party for them after the ceremony.

The Reds have to hot-foot it back to Merseyside for Tuesday's Carabao Cup third round tie with Southampton at Anfield (20:00 BST).

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

That leaves these ten fighting it out for the top prize:

Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England)

Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain)

Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal, Spain)

Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona, Spain)

Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England)

Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, England)

Ewa Pajor (Barcelona, Poland)

Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain)

Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England)

Leah Williamson (Arsenal, England)

Ballon d'Or

A little earlier, organisers began announcing the final placings lower down the pecking order for the 2025 Ballon d'Or trophies.

Here's who finished between 11th and 30th for the women's award:

11. Claudia Pina (Barcelona, Spain)

12. Marta (Orlando Pride. Brazil)

13. Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona, Norway)

14. Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia)

15. Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea, France)

16. Cristiana Girelli (Juventus, Italy)

17. Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City, Malawi)

18. Melchie Dumornay (Lyon, Haiti)

19. Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich, Germany)

20. Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich, Denmark)

21. Amanda Gutierres (Palmeiras, Brazil)

22. Esther Gonzalez (Gotham FC, Spain)

23. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea, Sweden)

24. Sofia Cantore (Juventus/Washington Spirit, Italy)

25. Emily Fox (Arsenal, USA)

26. Lindsey Horan Heaps (Lyon, USA)

27. Clara Mateo (Paris FC, France)

27. Frida Leonhardsen Maanum (Arsenal, Norway)

29. Steph Catley (Arsenal, Australia)

30. Caroline Weir (Real Madrid, Scotland)

Ousmane Dembele, who helped Paris St-Germain win the Champions League, Ligue 1, the French Cup and the equivalent of the French Super Cup, is a strong favourite for the main men's prize.

Barcelona's brilliant teenage talent Lamine Yamal is also a hot contender, while Mohamed Salah has also made the short list after helping Liverpool win the Premier League.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid are not at the Ballon d'Or for the second year in a row.

They were absent from last year's ceremony, when forward Vinicius Junior was beaten to best men's player by Manchester City's Rodri.

The reason for this year's absence could be down to scheduling - Real face Levante away in the La Liga on Tuesday (20:30 BST).

Three Real players have been nominated this year: Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

Mbappe told reporters after Real's Champions League win over Marseille last week that he would be watching the Ballon d'Or on the TV.

He added that he hoped France team-mate Ousmane Dembele won the men's award.

A former Leeds United player voted best player in the world?

I'm all for that, George.

So, how is the Ballon d'Or winner picked and just how big a deal is this award?

Well, it's the most prestigious individual prize in football and is awarded annually by France Football magazine to the player perceived to be the best in the world.

The winner is chosen through a dual system of voting.

Watch the short video to learn how the Ballon d'Or winner picked?

Image source, Reuters

Now Chelsea's Lucy Bronze, Sandy Baltimore, Hannah Hampton, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Wieke Kaptein and manager Sonia Bompastor are on the red carpet.

Ballon d'Or

Former Netherlands star Ruud Gullit is hosting the ceremony along with presenter Kate Scott at the impressive Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

The whole thing officially gets under way at 20:00 BST.

There is more than just the men's and women's Ballon d'Or being handed out.

These are the rest of the gongs...

• Kopa Trophy - best-performing male and female player in the world under the age of 21 for the previous season.
• Yashin Trophy - world's best male and female goalkeeper
• Gerd Muller Trophy - world's best male and female striker, based on goals scored for both their club and national team.

• Johan Cruyff Trophy - best male and female coach.

• Men's & women's Club of the Year Trophy - awarded to the club with the most nominations for the Ballon d'Or awards.

• Socrates Award - awarded to a player who has made significant contributions to social initiatives and humanitarian causes.

England

One of the first arrivals on the red carpet is Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman, who led England to Euro 2025 glory during the summer. Will she be dancing to Burna Boy after the after-show party?

Image source, Reuters

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