Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé and British forward Chloe Kelly have been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards for men and women.
French Football magazine announced the list of 30 male and 30 female nominees on Thursday, with the winners set to be revealed at a ceremony in Paris on September 22.
At 28, Dembélé led PSG to its first Champions League title after a long wait, scoring a remarkable 35 goals for the club last season.
Among the other male nominees is Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, whose outstanding performances contributed to the team’s Spanish League title victory.
Kelly’s Key Role in Euro Triumph
Chloe Kelly, age 27, made headlines when her decisive penalty helped England secure the Women’s European Championship against World Cup champions Spain last month, showcasing her critical contributions throughout the knockout stage.
Playing on the right flank, Kelly helped Arsenal clinch the Women’s Champions League title last season with a victory over Barcelona.
She will face tough competition from her England teammates, defender Lucy Bronze and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, as well as Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, who is a two-time winner of the award.
Bronze was the runner-up in 2019, finishing behind forward Megan Rapinoe.
Chloe Kelly’s nomination positions her alongside two-time winner Aitana Bonmatí. (Photo: Joan Cros – Corbis/Getty Images)
Highlighting PSG’s Star Player
Dembélé was among nine PSG players nominated for the men’s award, which includes goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who endured a tough match with Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Other notable nominees include Egyptian striker Mo Salah, who scored 29 goals helping Liverpool win the Premier League, along with Kylian Mbappé, who netted 44 times last season for Real Madrid.
Midfielder Rodri won the Ballon d’Or last year but missed a significant portion of the last season due to a knee injury.
Real Madrid expressed discontent during the ceremony following Vinícius Jr.’s second-place finish last year, taking to social media to air their grievances.
Understanding the Voting Process
The Ballon d’Or was established by French Football and has recognized male players since 1956 and female players since 2018. The voting pool includes the top 100 countries in the FIFA Men’s rankings and the top 50 for the Women’s.
Each selected journalist votes for a player in order, with points assigned based on their ranking, determining the eventual winner.
Additional Nominees
PSG coach Luis Enrique has been nominated for Best Men’s Coach, alongside England’s Sarina Wiegman as Best Women’s Coach.
Donnarumma’s impressive performances in the knockout rounds have positioned him as a frontrunner for the Lev Yashin award for Best Men’s Goalkeeper, while Hampton is among the female candidates for this award.
Report by Associated Press.
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Fan Take: This announcement of Ballon d’Or nominees is crucial for soccer fans as it highlights the exceptional talents rising in both men’s and women’s football. The recognition of players like Dembélé and Kelly could elevate the sport’s profile, fostering greater appreciation and support, especially for women’s soccer.
