United States loses ground in Ballon d’Or

The 30 footballers competing for the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or have now been confirmed. France Football has announced the list of nominees who will be vying to be named the world’s best player on September 22, when the prestigious award is presented.

Spain, with six nominees, and England, with five, lead the field, while the United States once again appears on the list with two players representing the USWNT. Lindsey Heaps and Emily Fox are the Americans chosen by France Football to contend for the Women’s Ballon d’Or – an accolade that this year seems destined to go to either Spain or England.

However, it is worth noting that unlike in 2024, the U.S. has seen a drop in representation among the finalists. Last year, following their triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the USWNT had five players on the list of nominees.

2025, the second year with the lowest female representation in the U.S.A

With the nominations of Lindsey Heaps and Emily Fox, the USWNT has just two players in contention – the second-lowest tally to date. As mentioned, in 2024 there were five, while in both 2023 and 2021 only one U.S. player (Sophia Smith) was nominated. In 2022, Catarina Macario, Alex Morgan and Trinity Rodman all made the shortlist.