PSG sets record on Ballon d’Or shortlist
A few days prior, I discussed how Paris Saint-Germain was well within reach of the record for most Ballon d’Or nominations held by a single team, a record previously held by Liverpool’s 2019 team and Barcelona’s 2011 team with seven.
With the list officially coming out today, PSG has blown past that record, ending up with nine players on the list.
I will break down all of the players who got honored, and where they could find themselves on that list come September 22.
Ousmane Dembele
Dembele finding himself on the list was the least surprising news of the day. Not only was he a lock to see himself nominated, it would be very surprising if he does not end up the winner.
He contributed 49 goals and assists while leading PSG to their first-ever Champions League title. The most legendary season in PSG history is going to end with a well-deserved Ballon d’Or for Ousmane Dembele.
Achraf Hakimi
The Moroccan right back took his game to an entirely new level in 2025, finding himself crucial to PSG’s success.
He blew past his career high with 26 goal contributions, which was also unsurprisingly the highest among any fullback this season.
Hakimi will find himself very high on the list in September. The podium might be just out of reach, but I think he has a chance to sneak into the top five.
Vitinha
Vitinha will be contending with Hakimi to get into the top five on the list.
He was instrumental to both PSG’s quadruple campaign and Portugal’s Nations League win, and this year was his second nomination.
He just snuck into the top 30 list last year at 27th, but this year the Portuguese midfielder will find himself much higher up.
Nuno Mendes
While Vitinha was crucial for Portugal in the Nations League, Nuno Mendes was the one who really stole the show.
In the Semi-Final against Germany, he kept Leroy Sane quiet and assisted Cristiano Ronaldo’s winner, and in the final, he scored the opener, assisted Ronaldo again, and completed the seemingly impossible task of shutting down Lamine Yamal.
He was just as important for PSG, stopping any right winger the opponent threw at him throughout the Champions League.
This was an all-time left-back campaign by Mendes, and he should find himself in the back half of the top 10.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
While the Italian might not be at the club for much longer, as PSG is closing in on the deal for his replacement, he had a legendary season in Paris.
His performances in the second legs against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa will go down in PSG history, and he will leave the club on a very high note.
He is likely to find himself around 10-15 on the ranking, sure to be the highest goalkeeper, and also likely to take home the Yashin trophy.
Desire Doue
Doue’s introduction to the football world was as electric as it gets.
He had a quiet first half of the season after moving from Rennes, but after scoring the winning penalty against Liverpool, putting in a screamer of a goal against Aston Villa, and scoring twice and assisting once in the Champions League final, everyone knows his name now.
He will probably find himself in the 15-20 range on the list, but a full season at the level he showed from January on could see him comfortably within the top 10 next year.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
After a January move that proved to be crucial in PSG turning their season around, Kvaratskhelia was nominated for the Ballon d’Or for the second time.
He was the heir to the famous #7 left vacant by Kylian Mbappe, and he showed to be well deserving.
He was 17th on the list when he was nominated for the first time in 2023, and I expect him to be about in that range once again this year.
Joao Neves
Neves moved from Benfica for 60 million Euros and got off to a flying start from the moment he put on a PSG kit.
That 60 million turned out to be a steal, as he proved to be one of the best midfielders in the world right away.
I personally think he was PSG’s best midfielder this season and would have him in the top 10 on my personal ballot, but I expected the actual voters to have him around 20-25.
Fabian Ruiz
Ruiz was the most surprising name on the list. In my article predicting what players could get nominated, I had him as a long shot. I did not expect a list that included him but not Willian Pacho or especially Bradley Barcola.
This is not to say Ruiz does not deserve it, however. There is a reason that Luis Enrique loves him so much, and I think his season was very underrated due to having to share a midfield with two other superstars in Vitinha and Neves.
