France most represented country in Ballon d’Or nominations | OneFootball

The nominations for the Ballon d’Or are out, and there are plenty of French players being recognised for their performances in the past year.

In total, four France internationals on the men’s side are in the running for the Ballon d’Or, which is twice as many as they had on the ballot last year.

They, along with England, are the most well-represented nominees on the shortlist of 30, with the Three Lions boasting Jude Bellingham (22), Harry Kane (32), Declan Rice (26) and Cole Palmer (23).

Here’s a breakdown of the French players who are in the running for the Ballon d’Or award and in which respective categories. The winners will be revealed in Paris on September 22.

Men’s Ballon d’Or

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 05: Ousmane Dembele #10 of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Achraf Hakimi #2 during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-final match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern München at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 05, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Of the four nominees that the French boast in this category, the leading candidate is likely Ousmane Dembélé (28), who was the Ligue 1 Player of the Year this past season and joint top-goalscorer (21 goals). He was an integral part of Paris Saint-Germain as they captured the UEFA Champions League title for the first time.

Also in the mix is Desiré Doué (20), who netted six times for PSG in Ligue 1 last season and had a brace and an assist in their 5-0 smashing of Inter in the Champions League final.

PSG’s record goalscorer Kylian Mbappé (26) is on the list as well, with the French captain capturing the European Golden Shoe in his first season at Real Madrid, while being named their Player of the Season.

Rounding out the French nominees is Michael Olise (23), who played an integral part in Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga title-winning campaign with 12 goals, while he was among the best at take-ons last season.

Several other players that feature in France are on that list, such as Gianluigi Donnarumma (26), Achraf Hakimi (26), Fabian Ruiz (29), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (24), Joao Neves (20), Nuno Mendes (23) and Vitinha (25).

No French player has won this award since Karim Benzema (37) at Real Madrid in 2022.

Women’s Ballon d’Or

PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 18: Sandy Baltimore of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the UEFA Women’s Champions League Qualifying Round 2 Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United at Parc des Princes on October 18, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

On the women’s side, two French players have a chance to claim the Ballon d’Or. Sandy Baltimore (25) scored four times in 15 Women’s Super League (WSL) appearances for Chelsea en route to them claiming another title.

She also netted five times for Les Bleues at the previous UEFA Nations League tournament and had the winner in their 2-1 upset victory over future champions England at the Euros this summer.

Clara Mateo (27) was also nominated after leading Paris FC to the Coupe de France Féminine last season and was named to the Première Ligue Team of the Season.

Lindsey Heaps (31) at Olympique Lyonnais Féminin is also a nominee, scoring 11 times in 12 league appearances for them last season.

Men’s Kopa Trophy

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA – DECEMBER 10: Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between FC Salzburg and Paris Saint-Germain at Stadion Salzburg on December 10, 2024 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images for Qatar Airways)

In this category, there are two Frenchmen on the ballot. Doué may stand the best chance of winning this award given his performances at such a young age, although Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal (18) will be the overwhelming favourite in this category.

Lille OSC’s Ayyoud Bouaddi (17) was also recognised as one of the best young men’s players, making 24 club appearances. Doué’s PSG teammate, João Neves, is also on the list with three goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearances a season ago.

Men’s Yashin Trophy

Lille’s French goalkeeper #30 Lucas Chevalier reacts after saving the ball in a penalty shoot out during the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg football match between Lille and Aston Villa at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France on April 18, 2024. Aston Villa won over Lille 4-3 after the penalty shoot-outs and Villa qualified for the semi-finals. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP) (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)

Lucas Chevalier (23) was rewarded for his strong season at Lille, where he was named the Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year, and he’s among the top 10 players nominated for top goalkeeper. He had 11 clean sheets in the previous top-flight campaign.

Unsurprisingly, Donnarumma is also on the list, after a splendid Champions League campaign where he was among the heroes, particularly in their come-from-behind victory over Liverpool in the round of 16.

Men’s Coach of the Year

STUTTGART, GERMANY – JANUARY 29: Luis Enrique, Head Coach of Paris Saint-Germain, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between VfB Stuttgart and Paris Saint-Germain at Stuttgart Arena on January 29, 2025 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

While no Frenchman was nominated in this category, the man who guided PSG to European glory stands a good chance of winning this award.

Luis Enrique was instrumental in their success last season, as they won their first-ever continental treble, winning the league, the Champions League and the Coupe de France.

Women’s Coach of the Year

SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND – NOVEMBER 24: Sonia Bompastor, head coach of Olympique Lyonnais reacts after the UEFA Women’s Champions League group C match between FC Zürich and Olympique Lyon at Wefox Arena on November 24, 2022 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

Former French international Sonia Bompastor is a deserving nominee for the Women’s Coach of the Year. In her first season in charge of Chelsea, she stepped into the shoes of legendary coach Emma Hayes and kept them winning.

Under Bompastor, the Chelsea women won another WSL crown and went undefeated along the way.

Men’s Team of the Year

MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 31: Luis Enrique, Head Coach of Paris Saint-Germain, lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy after his team’s victory, to secure Paris Saint-Germain’s first ever UEFA Champions League title in the club’s history and a record UEFA Champions League Final winning scoreline of 5-0, following the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

With all the trophies they collected last season, it’s no surprise that PSG were on this list of five, winning the Trophée des Champions, along with the Champions League and Ligue 1 crowns.

They were also finalists at the Club World Cup, the first French side to compete in that tournament.

Women’s Team of the Year

MUNICH, GERMANY – MARCH 18: Tabitha Chawinga of Olympique Lyonnais celebrates with her teammates after scoring her team’s first goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg match between FC Bayern München and Olympique Lyonnais on March 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

While they failed to claim any European silverware, the Lyon women still had another strong 2024-25 campaign and are one of five teams on the shortlist for this award.

They won a record 18th domestic title last season in the league and made the semi-finals of the Champions League, winning all but one match along the way.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre