Chelsea is having the Ballon d’Or dominance. The Blues shine with record nominations across categories. Chelsea Football Club have become a force in the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominations as the Blues shine with a remarkable 12 nominations in both men’s and women’s categories after an exceptional 2024/25 season. This impressive all-round nomination came after a successful season that saw Chelsea celebrate and lift many trophies which spotlight the club’s global rebirth following changes in ownership and investment into both senior teams.
Men’s Nominations: Palmer Leads Blues Charge
Cole Palmer is the only Chelsea player who got the nomination for the Men’s Ballon d’Or. Palmer was nominated last year finishing in 25th place, having had a season previously. Palmer, 23, had the best season of his career and completely justified his nomination; which included 32 goal involvements (18 goals, 14 assists) in 52 matches, and two incredible performances on the biggest stage – he was awarded man of the match in the UEFA Conference league final and scored two goals and an assist, in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over PSG in the Club World Cup final.
Brazilian starlet Estevão is also in the spotlight, having been nominated for the Kopa Trophy (best U21 player). Though his nomination was based on his performances with Palmeiras – also including his notable performance versus Chelsea in the Club World Cup final – the £29 million transfer to Chelsea gives it more context. The 18-year-old joins Chelsea with a senior career consisting of 86 appearances as well as 5 caps for Brazil. Estevão is perfect representative of Chelsea’s focus on youth.
Women’s Dominance: Quartet Headlines Ballon d’Or Contenders
Chelsea Women’s historic domestic treble propelled four stars onto the Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist:
Sandy Baltimore: The French dynamo delivered six goals and nine assists, including a Wembley masterclass in the FA Cup final (2 goals, 1 assist).
Lucy Bronze: The experienced defender scored the title-winning goal against Manchester United and was instrumental in Chelsea’s unbeaten domestic season.
Hannah Hampton: Hampton got nomination for the Ballon d’Or and the Yachine Trophy (for best goalkeeper), having registered 19 clean sheets in 34 matches and having been pivotal in England’s Euro 2025 triumph.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd: The Swedish player won Chelsea’s Goal of the Season for her stunning volley against Tottenham. She also had a campaign with a more-than-respectable five goals and six assists to her name.
Meanwhile teenage midfielder Wieke Kaptein (19) also nominated for Women’s Kopa Trophy. She had four goals and four assists in 33 appearances. There is clearly some deep talent in a pipeline.
Chelsea Ballon D’Or Nominees
Men:
• Cole Palmer 🏴
Women:
• Johanna Rytting Kaneryd 🇸🇪
• Hannah Hampton 🏴
• Lucy Bronze 🏴
• Sandy Baltimore 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/1f4rgi3l0k
— Tom Overend (@tovers98) August 7, 2025
Coaching & Club Accolades
Managerial Performance is also in the spotlight. Enzo Maresca got nomination for the Johan Cruyff Trophy (best men’s coach) after winning the Conference League and Club World Cup in his first season as head coach. The women’s nominee, Sonia Bompastor, led chelsea to a domestic treble while having an 85% winning percentage. This has provided her with a Coach of the Year Nomination.
Completing the clean sweep, both Chelsea men’s and women’s got nomination for Club of the Year. The men got nomination with robust credentials after winning two out of Europe’s three continental trophies. Moreover, they qualified for the Champions League within the same season. While the women’s team earned theirs after an unbeaten domestic season consisting of a WSL win, an FA Cup win, and League Cup.
Chelsea FC taking over the Ballon d'Or stage 💙🔥
Maresca nominated for the Men's Johan Cruyff trophy ✅
Palmer nominated for Ballon d'Or ✅
Estevao Willian nominated for the Kopa Trophy ✅
Chelsea nominated for the men's club of the year ✅ pic.twitter.com/4NNlOHH3zQ
— 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒚²⁹ (@CFCFofana) August 7, 2025
Significance and Outlook
This haul – and what a haul as this includes players, coaches and the club as a whole – signals a return to the upper echelon of football for Chelsea. For Palmer it vindicates that £40 million move to Chelsea from Manchester City. While for Estevão and Kaptein, it forecasts generational potential. For the women’s quadruple nomination it shows their dominance in English football. With their two nominees – Baltimore and Hampton – in the running for the win.
The Road Ahead
Voting by journalists across the world completes in September with winners announced at Paris’ Théâtre du Châtelet on September 22. If multiple Blues were to shine and win, it would be a watershed moment for the club. Alongside the strategy behind their investments that got them there, with Palmer emerging, and Bompastor brought to lead the women’s section. Chelsea and the Blues are a large part of the global game. Their potential is truly embodied in these nominations beyond individual awards, but as the bedrock of a club reborn.
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