On Monday, France Football chose the winner of the Ballon d’Or for the 2024/25 season. The trophy will hand over none other than Ronaldinho. You can interpret something in it.
Ronaldinho returns after 20 years
The Brazilian world champion, who was awarded the golden ball himself in 2005, returns to the big stage almost 20 years later.
The choice does not happen by chance: after a season in which Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona shaped European football, with Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé, three players from these two clubs count as the closest favorite group.
Parisian players such as Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes or Vitinha should also be represented in the other places – while many fans expect Barças Pedri to get voices. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that Real Madrid will not take part in the ceremony as in the previous year. So much indicates that the balloon d’Or either moves to Paris or to Barcelona-to one of Ronaldinho’s ex-clubs.
A pattern becomes clear
For years, France Football has been using the tradition to have the new world football player honored by a personality from his environment. In 2023, Lionel Messi received balloon d’Or from his club boss David Beckham (Inter Miami), two years earlier it was his friend Luis Suárez, who presented the trophy to him. In between, Karim Benzema was able to accept the award from his hands from his compatriot, Idol and ex-coach Zinédine Zidane.
The only exception in the recent past: In the previous year, Rodri received balloon d’Or from George Weah, the winner of 1995. The reason was that none of Rodris – Manchester City, Atlético Madrid or Villarreal – had each produced a world footballer. And Spain’s only winner so far, Luis Suárez Miramontes (1960), died in 2023.
Ballon d’Or 2025: candidates, time, transmission
