Julius OkorieWomen footballers are in for better deal after organisers of the Ballon d’Or announced the inclusion of more categories in the prestigious award for women.
The Ballon d’Or award ceremony is set to take place on September 22, 2025, marking a significant milestone as it will feature an equal number of awards for women and men for the first time.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelOrganisers announced on Monday, the introduction of new categories, including awards for the best women’s goalkeeper, best young women’s player, and the top women’s scorer from either club or national team
This year’s ceremony at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, will honour a total of six categories for male players and six for female players, along with the Socrates Award, which recognises actions that promote solidarity and is open to both men and women
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The nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or event will be revealed in early August.
The Ballon d’Or remains the apogee of individual accolades in football. Since its inception by France Football in 1956, it has aimed to recognise exceptional talent and achievements on the pitch.
Looking ahead to the 2025 awards, the categories will include the Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or, Men’s and Women’s Kopa Trophy (best young player), Men’s and Women’s Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), Men’s and Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer in club/national team).
Other categories are: Men’s and Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach in club/national team), Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year, and the Sócrates Award, collectively presented by L’Équipe group and Peace and Sport.
Last year’s ceremony was marked by a boycott from Real Madrid; following their Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior’s failure to win the best men’s player award, which went to Rodri of Manchester City.
It is safe to say that women football witnessing a harvest of goodies that will further improve game in the future. Only recently FIFA announced that the 2031 Women’s World Cup will feature 48 teams up from the current 32 teams that featured at the 2023 World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
