Can one of Arsenal’s nominees win the Ballon d’Or? Part 2 | OneFootball

The 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or race is shaping up to be one of the closest yet, with seven Arsenal nominees in a wide-open field where England and Spain dominate.

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Can one of Arsenal’s nominees win the Ballon d’Or? The answer is yes, and here is a reminder of the voting rules.

The 50 judges will vote according to three main criteria:

2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees (in alphabetical order):

Sandy Baltimore (France, Chelsea), Barbra Banda (Zambia, Orlando Pride), Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona), Lucy Bronze (England, Chelsea), Klara Bühl (Germany, Bayern), Mariona Caldentey (Spain, Arsenal), Sofia Cantore (Italy, Juventus/Washington Spirit), Steph Catley (Australia, Arsenal), Temwa Chawinga (Malawi, Kansas City), Melchie Dumornay (Haiti, OL Lyonnes), Emily Fox (United States, Arsenal), Cristiana Girelli (Italy, Juventus), Esther González (Spain, Gotham FC), Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona), Patri Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona), Amanda Gutierres (Brazil, Palmeiras), Hannah Hampton (England, Chelsea), Pernille Harder (Denmark, Bayern), Lindsey Heaps (United States, OL Lyonnes), Chloe Kelly (England, Manchester City/Arsenal), Frida Maanum (Norway, Arsenal), Marta (Brazil, Orlando Pride), Clara Mateo (France, Paris FC), Ewa Pajor (Poland, Barcelona), Clàudia Pina (Spain, Barcelona), Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona), Alessia Russo (England, Arsenal), Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Sweden, Chelsea), Caroline Weir (Scotland, Real Madrid), Leah Williamson (England, Arsenal).

The favourites are likely to come from either England or Spain at national team level, and from Arsenal or Barcelona at club level.

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Six Spanish players are nominated, with Mariona Caldentey and Esther González both Champions League winners. Five English players have made the list, three of whom – Alessia Russo, Leah Williamson and Chloe Kelly – achieved a rare Euros and Champions League double.

On the club side, Barcelona have six nominees, including top scorer Ewa Pajor and their influential midfield trio. Arsenal, Champions League winners, have a record seven nominees: Russo, Williamson, Kelly, Mariona, Frida Maanum, Emily Fox and Steph Catley.

Some have questioned the absence of Kim Little, but her understated influence means her work is less visible to voters. While she is integral to Arsenal’s success, it is her higher-profile team-mates who have attracted nominations.

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Hannah Hampton is the only goalkeeper on the 30-player shortlist, her heroics helping England win the Euros and Chelsea secure the domestic treble. It is also notable that goalscorers from across the world’s leagues, such as Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Esther González, Amanda Gutierres, Clara Mateo and the legendary Marta, have been recognised. Marta, a league and continental champion with Orlando Pride and Brazil, is a serious contender.

The vote could be shaped by four leading candidates: Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly. All excel in individual performance, with Kelly’s decisive contributions meeting the “decisive” criteria in full.

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Russo and Kelly’s double triumph strengthens their case under the team achievement criteria, while the Spanish playmakers’ style and sportsmanship boost them in the “class and fair play” category.

Others who should attract strong support include Clàudia Pina, Hampton, Bronze, Marta and Williamson. Any of them would be worthy of a top-three finish.

With 50 judges and as many interpretations of the voting guidelines, this year lacks the clear front-runners of previous editions, promising a much closer contest.

Past top-two finishes:2018: 1. Ada Hegerberg (136), 2. Pernille Harder (130) – Hegerberg won the UWCL, Harder was runner-up.2019: 1. Megan Rapinoe (230), 2. Lucy Bronze (94) – Rapinoe won the World Cup, scoring key goals.2021: 1. Alexia Putellas (186), 2. Jenni Hermoso (84) – Canada won the Olympics, Barcelona the UWCL.2022: 1. Alexia Putellas (178), 2. Beth Mead (152) – Barcelona won the UWCL, England the Euros, with Putellas’ playmaking swaying votes.2023: 1. Aitana Bonmatí (266), 2. Sam Kerr (87) – Bonmatí won the UWCL and the World Cup.2024: 1. Aitana Bonmatí (675), 2. Caroline Graham Hansen (392) – USA won the Olympics, Barcelona the UWCL.

A tight vote is expected, and while Russo or Kelly could claim the prize, a split among the leading names might allow an outsider to emerge.