Summary

  • First-time winner is guaranteed in men's category - Rodri and Vinicius Jr among favourites

  • Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has not travelled to Paris

  • Aitana Bonmati wins women's award for second successive year

  • Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez recognised as world's best goalkeeper for second year in row

  • Harry Kane given award for best goalscorer - shared with Kylian Mbappe who did not attend

  • Lamine Yamal wins Kopa Trophy for best young player

  • Emma Hayes and Carlo Ancelotti win inaugural coach of the year awards

  • Barcelona win women's club award and Real Madrid win men's club award

  • Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. Why did no English players come close to the Ballon d'Or Feminin?published at 21:34 Greenwich Mean Time

    Fara Williams
    Former England midfielder on The Football News Show

    Missing the Olympics this summer, not showcasing themselves in that wouldn’t help. And if you look at the English players off the back of the Euros and World Cup, we saw a lot of tired English players in the league last year. And we saw that domestically and in the Champions League with none of the English clubs in the final.

    So I can see why they are not in the running this year. I think the last two years, they would have had a greater chance.

    Millie Bright and Leah WilliamsonImage source, Getty Images
  2. I always dreamed of being nominated - Hemppublished at 21:32 Greenwich Mean Time

    England international Lauren Hemp says she "always dreamed" of being nominated for the Women's Ballon d'Or award.

    The 24-year-old, who finished 28th in the race for the 2024 prize, was one of three Lionesses up for the award.

    Chelsea pair Lauren James and Lucy Bronze completed the English representation on the female list, while Hemp's Manchester City team-mates Khadija Shaw and Yui Hasegawa were also nominated.

    "It's very special, I just feel so grateful to be recognised by people not only in this league, but across the world," Hemp told BBC Sport's Emma Sanders.

    "It takes a lot for me to look back and see how far I've come. I've always dreamed of being on lists like this and to be nominated, so it's a step in the right direction."

    Media caption,

    'The sky's the limit for her' - Hemp and Shaw on being Manchester City team-mates

  3. Can you name Ballon d'Or nominees' first English clubs?published at 21:30 Greenwich Mean Time

    The Ballon d'Or winner will be announced shortly - with 30 players named on the initial shortlist.

    Many of them started their careers in English football, with more joining Premier League clubs later on.

    We want you to name them from the first English team where they played a first-team game, so we are including loans.

    You can play our fiendish quiz here.

  4. Postpublished at 21:27 Greenwich Mean Time

    We now have a short break before the men's Ballon d'Or winner is announced.

    It will be one of four men: Rodri, Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham or Dani Carvajal.

  5. Postpublished at 21:26 Greenwich Mean Time

    It is revealed that Barcelona have swept the Ballon d'Or Feminin podium this year.

    Caroline Graham Hansen finishes second, with Salma Paralluelo third behind team mate Aitana Bonmati.

  6. 'I'm so grateful'published at 21:25 Greenwich Mean Time

    2024 winner of the Ballon d'Or Feminin Aitana Bonmati after winning for the award back to back: "Thank you so much for your applause. I'm so grateful to be here to receive this award for the second time.

    "I always say this is not something that you can do alone, I'm so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful players who help me to keep growing into a better player. So thank you to my teammates because without them I wouldn't be here, I would also like to thank my club and Joan Laporta."

  7. Postpublished at 21:23 Greenwich Mean Time

    Between Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, the last four women's Ballons d'Or have been won by Barcelona players.

    A dominance that reflects Barca's dominance of Spanish and European women's club football.

  8. Postpublished at 21:22 Greenwich Mean Time

    Aitana Bonmati is asked whether winning the Ballon d'Or last year gave her more confidence on the pitch.

    "When you are growing and have more experience, you have confidence. It is not about the trophies, it is about having my team mates next to me," she says.

    Not the answer the organisers wanted, I suspect.

  9. 'My favourite would be Bonmati'published at 21:19 Greenwich Mean Time

    Fara Williams
    Former England midfielder

    It's her IQ - her game understanding is right up there with the very best.

    She controls the midfield for Barcelona - really gets them going. She doesn't just control it, but she adds goals and assist to her game. When you’re a midfielder and you have those attributes, you’re really key.

    Aitana BonmatiImage source, Getty Images
  10. 'Bonmati controls the game'published at 21:18 Greenwich Mean Time

    Guillem Balague
    Spanish football journalist

    Aitana Bonmati controls the game, has goals, assists, personality. She is growing fantastically well with a team who have taken women's football to a new dimension.

    She has the high standards any midfielder should aspire to, but, because the Ballon d'Or is not just about the football, she also represents the club and national side very well.

    She is a reference for kids on the stands and kids in the game. She is a great representative for football.

  11. Postpublished at 21:16 Greenwich Mean Time

    I said earlier on that Aitana Bonmati was not at the ceremony tonight, but this was an error. She is present, has accepted her award and is addressing the audience.

    In Spanish, she thanks her club, team mates and Barca president Juan Laporta.

  12. Aitana Bonmati wins Ballon d'Or Femininpublished at 21:14 Greenwich Mean Time
    Breaking

    For the second successive year, Aitana Bonmati wins the women's Ballon d'Or, after helping Barcelona retain both the La Liga F and Champions League titles.

    She follows club and international team mate Alexia Putellas in winning back to back titles.

  13. Postpublished at 21:13 Greenwich Mean Time

    We have just two trophies left to present - and they are the two main ones.

    First the Ballon d'Or Feminin, to be presented by actress and Angel City owner Natalie Portman.

    She reveals that she and her son, who live in Paris, are regulars at PSG matches.

  14. Carlo Ancelotti wins Men's Coach of the Yearpublished at 21:10 Greenwich Mean Time
    Breaking

    More awkwardness, as we have another absent winner.

    Carlo Ancelotti is named men's coach of the year, after leading Real Madrid to the Champions League title.

    But with Real Madrid boycotting the ceremony, we have no acceptance speech...

  15. Emma Hayes wins Women's Coach of the Yearpublished at 21:07 Greenwich Mean Time
    Breaking

    Emma HayesImage source, Getty Images

    The first Women's Coach of the Year award winner is English.

    Emma Hayes wins it after Chelsea defended the WSL title. Hayes then became United States manager and led them to Olympic gold.

    Hayes isn't able to attend the ceremony, but has recorded a video message.

    "I'm very honoured. My family are very proud to be in this position," she said.

    "I am a little embarrassed as this is a team game. I am so honoured to coach incredible teams at Chelsea and USA. This is a very proud day."

  16. Postpublished at 21:07 Greenwich Mean Time

    We are about to hear the winners of the first ever Ballon d'Or trophies for managers...

  17. 'This award makes me aware of my responsibility'published at 21:06 Greenwich Mean Time

    Tigres forward Jennifer Hermoso after winning the Socrates Trophy: "I'd like to thank everyone for this award, it is a real honour. It makes me really aware of the responsibility of the award, what I share with my colleagues on and off the pitch.

    "Women's football deserves a place for new and future generations. This morning, I woke up and remembered a voice of a little girl saying she wanted to become a footballer, I find it inspiring. I want to keep that going and help make the world a better place.

    "I'd like to ask all of you to get together and work together in order to make a better world possible and to make football become what little girls deserve for the future."

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:04 Greenwich Mean Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    I bet Arsenal are well annoyed knowing they had the best goalkeeper in the world, and now he graces the claret and blue fields instead! UTV and well done Emi.

    Dave, Birmingham

  19. 'I only care about group efforts'published at 21:02 Greenwich Mean Time

    Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after winning the Yashin Trophy: "It's huge for me. I always dreamed of playing one game for the national team. Coming as such a young lad to England, to Aston Villa and the national team. Winning once was such an honour, winning back-to-back I couldn't believe. Winning such an honour for my family and friends.

    On his playing style: "Sometimes, when you are on the pitch, you behave the way you want to win the game. Off the pitch, I am proud man, a husband and a brother. On it, with Aston Villa, we just want to continue progressing."

    On being the best goalkeeper in the world: "I don't see myself as the best, there's so many good goalies that I see today and week in, week out. I only care about the group efforts. I just want to improve myself."

  20. 'Olympic gold tips coach award to Hayes'published at 21:01 Greenwich Mean Time

    Fara Williams
    Former England midfielder on The Football News Show

    Again there is some fantastic coaches out there in the women’s game. I think we saw what Emma Hayes did at Chelsea, the legacy she left there, that battle went on in the WSL that went down to the wire, she did a fantastic job.

    Then to take over the US National Team, and go and win the Olympics having only been there a couple of months, shows the quality of a coach to be able to do that. And, to completely change round a US team that was lacking over so many areas in the last couple of years. So, for me she tips it because of the Olympics gold in the summer.

    But we all know what Sarina [Wiegman] has done with this Lioness team, and good she’s been and consistent she’s been in recent years.

    Emma HayesImage source, Getty Images