The Golden Ball awards this Monday (09/22), among other categories, the best football player of last season. The ceremony takes place at the Théâtre Du Châtelet, in Paris, from 15h, with TNT Sports broadcast on YouTube and pay TV, and on Max’s streaming.
According to the criteria established by France Football, the magazine selects 30 names and passes to the jury, which will choose the 10 nominees for the award.
This jury is made up of a journalist specialized by country, in addition to the 100 best ranked players according to FIFA. Who is the Brazilian professional who participates in the award? THE Sporting News reveals.
MORE: Golden Ball 2025: What are the voting criteria?
Cléber Machado is still the Brazilian who votes for the Golden Ball?
Narrator Cléber Machado will again be the only Brazilian to vote for the Golden Ball award. In 2024, he revealed that his top 5 was formed by: Vinicius Jr, Rodrigo, Bellingham, Mbappé and Kane.
In 2023, he voted for Messi, Haaland, Mbappé, Modric and Rodrigo.
In an interview with CNN, Cléber revealed how the invitation to be part of the jury to the main individual award of football came to be part of the jury:
– The association of sports chroniclers in the state of São Paulo had a time in a soccer field behind Fupe’s North mall, and we were going to play ball in the morning. And among those who played had a French journalist who worked at Gazeta Esportiva and wrote to France Football. He told me they were expanding the prize electoral college and asked if he could suggest me. Then they started sending me email and since then I am voting annually, ”he explained.
MORE: Golden Ball 2025: See all nominees to the award
Golden Ball 2025: time and where to watch
- Data: Monday, September 22, 2025
- Time: From 16h (from Brasilia)
- Where to watch: TNT (Pay TV) and Max (streaming)
MORE: BOTAFOGO EARNED GOLD BALL? Result of the Club Trophy of the Year
Golden Ball 2025: Check out all nominees
Best Player – Male
- Jude Bellingham
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Desired
- Denzel Dumfries
- Serhou Guirassy
- Viktor
- Erling Haaland
- Achraf Hakimi
- Harry Kane
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Robert Lewandowski
- Alexis Mac Allister
- Lautaro Martinez
- Kylian Mbappé
- Scott McTominay
- Nuno Mendes
- JOAO NEVES
- Michael Olise
- Cole Palmer
- Pedri
- Raphinha
- Declan Rice
- Fabian Ruiz
- Mohamed is wrong
- Virgil van Dijk
- Vinicius Jr.}
- Vitinha
- Florian Wirtz
- Lamine Yamal
Brazilians nominated in the Golden Ball categories
In addition to Raphinha and Vinicius Jr., there are Brazilians nominated in the other categories of the award. Node Kopa Male Kopa Trophybest under-21 player, Stephen is the only Brazilian. Currently in Chelsea, da englandthe young man acted for Palm trees Until the Club World Cup.
Alisson Beckerfrom Liverpool, is among the finalists of the Yashin Trophybest goalkeeper in the world. The Brazilian shirt 1 won the award in 2019 and was second in 2022.
Arthur Eliascoach of the Brazilian women’s team, was appointed among those nominated in the Women’s Cruyff Trophybest coach in the category. Arthur has been at the head of the Brazil’s women’s team since 2023.
Botafogo, winner of Brasileirão and Libertadores in 2024, appeared as nominated among the best men’s clubs.
