NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 23: Scott McTominay of Napoli celebrates victory following the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Serie A MVP Scott McTominay, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, Nerazzurri wing-back Denzel Dumfries and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma are the Italian and Serie A representatives on the shortlist for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

McTominay is a Ballon d’Or candidate

France Football, who organise the Ballon d’Or awards, are announcing the nominees across all men’s and women’s categories on Thursday ahead of the ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on September 22.

NAPLES, ITALY - MAY 23: Scott McTominay of Napoli celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) — NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 23: Scott McTominay of Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Having announced the candidates for the Kopa Trophy, Yachinie Trophy, Cruyff Trophy and Club of the Year, the time has now come to reveal the nominees for the flagship Ballon d’Or award.

There are three Serie A candidates on the shortlist. McTominay is one of them after taking the division by storm during his first season in Italy, steering Napoli to their second Scudetto in three years while claiming the league’s MVP award in the process.

McTominay is joined by Inter captain Lautaro, who helped Inter to their second Champions final in three years with nine goals and two assists from 14 matches in the competition.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - JANUARY 02: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Super Cup Semi-Final match between FC Internazionale and Atalanta at Al Awwal Park on January 02, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images) — RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 02: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Italian Super Cup Semi-Final match between FC Internazionale and Atalanta at Al Awwal Park on January 02, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

He has been joined by Nerazzurri teammate Denzel Dumfries, who put in a particularly memorable set of performances during Inter’s spectacular 7-6 aggregate win over Barcelona in the Champions semi-final.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who began the 2024-25 season with Napoli, but left to join Champions winners Paris Saint-Germain in a €70m deal in January, has also been included.

There is one Italian on the shortlist for the 2025 Ballon d’Or in Donnarumma, who is also one of the favourites to win the Yachine Trophy after securing an historic quadruple with PSG last season.