You've probably seen the clips of Ousmane Dembélé lifting that massive gold trophy by now. Honestly, the 2025 ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet was one of those rare nights where the red carpet felt just as chaotic as the actual pitch. With PSG essentially sweeping the awards and Aitana Bonmatí clinching her historic third straight title, everyone is scrambling to find the high-quality replays or wondering how they missed the live broadcast in the first place.
Finding where to watch Ballon d'Or 2025 shouldn't feel like a scouting mission for a hidden wonderkid.
The rights were scattered more than a Pep Guardiola tactical board this year. If you were in the US, you had to be on Paramount+, while fans in the UK were largely left to the official digital streams. It’s a mess of regional blackouts and "exclusive" partnerships that change every season.
The US and UK Dilemma
If you’re in the States, CBS has basically locked this thing down. You won't find it on your standard cable package most of the time. You’ve gotta have Paramount+ or at least be tuned into the CBS Sports Golazo Network. They started the coverage early—2 p.m. ET—with the red carpet, which was mostly just Kate Scott and Ruud Gullit trying to interview players over the screams of fans in Paris.
Across the pond, it’s a totally different story.
UK fans didn't have a traditional TV home for it this time. Most people ended up on the official Ballon d'Or website or the L’Equipe YouTube channel. It’s actually kinda better that way because you don't have to deal with localized commercial breaks every five minutes.
Europe and the Rest of the World
Broadcasters for the 2025 gala were all over the map:
- France: L'Equipe (obviously, it's their trophy).
- Spain: Movistar Plus+ handled the honors, which made sense given the massive Barcelona and Real Madrid contingent.
- Germany & Italy: DAZN took the lead for the German fans, but interestingly, Italy relied heavily on the official digital streams at ballondor.com.
- India: Sony LIV remains the go-to spot for the subcontinent.
Why YouTube is Actually the Best Bet
Look, unless you really want the localized commentary, the L’Equipe YouTube channel is the "secret" everyone uses. It’s free. It’s high definition. It doesn’t lag as much as some of the smaller regional apps.
They stream the whole thing from the moment the first black SUV pulls up to the Theatre du Chatelet until the winners are doing their press junkets in the back.
If you're trying to catch the replays or the specific moment Lamine Yamal picked up his second Kopa Trophy, the official YouTube highlights are already the most reliable source. They don't geoblock the highlights as aggressively as the live feed, which is a lifesaver if you're traveling.
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What You Actually Missed (The Non-Scripted Stuff)
The 2025 ceremony had some weird energy. Since the 2024 drama with Real Madrid boycotting the event, there was a lot of tension in the air. This year, the focus was heavily on the "Total Parity" initiative. They gave out equal trophies for men and women across almost every category—Yashin, Kopa, and Gerd Müller trophies included.
Seeing Hannah Hampton and Gianluigi Donnarumma share the stage for the best goalkeepers was a massive shift from how these galas used to run.
Also, a quick shoutout to the Socrates Award. It went to the Xana Foundation, which Luis Enrique set up. It was a genuine, quiet moment in a night that is usually just about ego and expensive suits.
Quick Stats from the 2025 Rankings
- Ousmane Dembélé (1,380 points): A runaway winner after PSG’s Champions League glory.
- Lamine Yamal (1,059 points): The kid is 18 and already second in the world.
- Vitinha (703 points): Finally getting the respect he deserves as the engine of that Paris midfield.
How to Catch the Replays Right Now
If you missed the live window on September 22, you aren't totally out of luck.
Search for the "Ballon d'Or 2025 Full Ceremony" on the L’Equipe channel first. If you are in a region where they’ve hidden the full broadcast, a VPN set to France or "International" usually clears that up.
For US viewers, the Paramount+ app has the full "Special Events" replay archived under their soccer section. It’s usually tucked away behind the Champions League folders, so you might have to dig a little.
Next Steps for the 2026 Cycle
The 2025 season is officially in the books, but the 2026 race started the moment the trophy hit the pedestal. Keep an eye on the L’Equipe official site for the 2026 shortlist announcement, which usually drops in early August. If you want to avoid the "where to watch" scramble next time, just bookmark the official YouTube page—it's been the most consistent way to bypass the TV rights headache for three years running.