Every soccer fan knows about the Ballon d’Or. It is one of the biggest individual awards in the sport and every year there is a huge debate about who deserves to win. From young stars to experienced legends, the award brings together some of the best players in the world.

The Ballon d’Or was first created by France Football in 1956, and first won by England legend Stanley Matthews. Since then, the award has become one of the biggest honors a soccer player can receive. This year is also special because the Ballon d’Or is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The ceremony will take place on Oct. 26 in London.

So who will take home soccer’s biggest individual award? This year’s Ballon d’Or nominees include many of the biggest stars in the game: Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Ousmane Dembélé.

One nominee who will definitely get a lot of attention is 19-year-old Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona winger finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting and won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player. This summer, Yamal helped Spain lift the biggest trophy in football history, the FIFA World Cup. Yamal is competing with some of the biggest names in international soccer and has proven he has more to come.

Another player to watch is Ousmane Dembélé, who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or. He had a huge season with Paris Saint-Germain and helped the club win the Champions League.

What makes the Ballon d’Or so interesting is that there isn’t always one obvious answer as to who really deserves it. Fans look at goals, assists, trophies, big games, and individual performances when debating who should win.

This year’s award should be even more interesting because the season included the FIFA World Cup. A player’s performance at the World Cup can become a big part of the conversation surrounding the award.

However, the Ballon d’Or isn’t just about the men’s award. There is a women’s Ballon d’Or, the Kopa Trophy for young players, the Yashin Trophy for goalkeepers, and awards for coaches and clubs that are all presented at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The women’s Ballon d’Or this year will also have plenty of competition. Barcelona has several players nominated, including Alexia Putellas, Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, Ewa Pajor, and Cata Coll.

For soccer fans, the Ballon d’Or is a chance to look back at the players who stood out the most during the year, and on Oct. 26, we will find out who takes home one of the most famous individual awards in the sport.