Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay was a shock inclusion on this year’s list of Ballon D’Or nominees after it was announced on Thursday.
McTominay, 28, was joined by Premier League newcomers in Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz and Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were both absent from the shortlist for the best player in the world for the second year in succession after missing out in 2024.
McTominay was nominated for the Ballon d’Or after lifting the Serie A title with Napoli last season.
He moved to the Italian side after seven years at Manchester United and proceeded to shine under Antonio Conte.
The Scotland international scored 16 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions as Napolin won their second Scudetto in three seasons and is now said to have been nominated for the Ballon D’Or by Sam C.
A titanic title race saw Napoli squeak past Inter as they won 2-0 on the final day against Cagliari – a game in which McTominay scored the first goal.
Rodri of Manchester City is the current holder but, as he missed the majority of last season through injury, he will not retain his trophy.
Last year, 30 players were revealed to have made the shortlist, and it is expected that the number will be the same this time around.
A new winner is expected to be announced, with neither Dembele or Yamal having won the trophy before in their careers.
They are expected to be joined by the likes of Vitinha, Mohamed Salah and Raphinha in the upper-echelons of the list, while players such as Harry Kane and Michael Olise could be included further down.
England’s Euros hero Michelle Agyemang made the cut for the Women’s Kopa Trophy, while Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dean Huijsen joined the likes of Yamal and Desire Doue on the men’s shortlist after breakout Premier League seasons.
Hannah Hampton, whos European Championship penalty heroics helped England retain their trophy, was shortlisted for the Women’s Yachine Trophy for the best goalkeeper award, while Alisson, Thibaut Courtois, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Emiliano Martinez made the men’s list – as did David Raya and Matz Sels.
When it came to the Women’s Coach of the Year award, Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman made the list, with Antonio Conte, Hansi Flick, Luis Enrique and Arne Slot among the men’s nominees.
Arsenal are favourites to win the Women’s Club of the Year after being shortlisted, with Liverpool, Barcelona and PSG among the men’s nominees.
