- Raphinha enjoyed a treble-winning season with Barcelona and ended as Champions League joint-top scorer.
- Mohamed Salah broke records in the Premier League, winning the Golden Boot for the fourth time.
- Teenager Lamine Yamal impressed for both Barcelona and Spain with key performances.
- Women stars Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas, and Claudia Pina are all in contention after strong campaigns.
- Alessia Russo, Mariona Caldentey and Lucy Bronze add English and Arsenal flavour to the shortlist.
- Several other big names from the Premier League and Europe also cut.
Brazilian winger Raphinha was at the heart of Barcelona’s success last season. He scored 18 goals and provided nine assists as the Catalans lifted La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España.
In Europe, he shared the Champions League Golden Boot with 13 goals in 14 appearances, including a hat-trick against Bayern Munich. His efforts also earned him La Liga’s Player of the Season award.
Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah once again proved his class, firing his team to their 20th league crown.
He finished the Premier League campaign with 29 goals and 18 assists, equalling the record for the most goal involvements in a single season. His fourth Golden Boot put him level with Thierry Henry’s record, while he was also crowned Premier League Player of the Year.
Though Liverpool exited the Champions League early, Salah still managed three goals in the competition.
At just 18, Lamine Yamal already looks like a superstar. He played 55 times across competitions, scoring 18 goals and assisting 21 as Barcelona claimed another domestic treble.
The young winger also made his mark internationally, scoring twice for Spain in their dramatic Nations League semi-final win over France. Although Spain lost to Portugal in the final, Yamal’s rise has been remarkable.
Two-time winner Aitana Bonmati is chasing a third Ballon d’Or in a row. She overcame a health scare before the Euros and still scored in the semi-final. Despite Spain losing the final, her consistency keeps her among the favourites.
Alexia Putellas, who already won the award back-to-back in 2021 and 2022, remains a strong candidate. With 16 goals and 11 assists, she led Barcelona to another treble despite missing out on European and international glory.
Claudia Pina shone as Barcelona’s Champions League top scorer with 24 goals, while also netting six times for Spain. At 24, her versatility and attacking impact make her one of the dark horses for the prize.
Alessia Russo enjoyed a breakthrough season with Arsenal, winning both the Champions League and Euro 2025. She scored in the Euro final and finished as joint-top scorer in the Women’s Super League. Her performances earned her the FWA Player of the Year title.
Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze had a heroic season, playing with a fractured tibia yet still lifting the WSL, FA Cup, and League Cup. She also helped England win the Euros, scoring a crucial penalty. Her resilience stands out even if defenders rarely win the Ballon d’Or.
Spanish forward Mariona Caldentey made an instant impact at Arsenal after leaving Barcelona. She was named WSL Player of the Year and scored in the Euro 2025 final. Her biggest achievement was guiding Arsenal to their first-ever Champions League crown.
Scotland’s Scott McTominay earned a nomination after guiding Napoli to the Serie A title in his debut season. Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Viktor Gyökeres also made the list.
From Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Salah were all nominated. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was the other Premier League player recognised.
