Arsenal have received recognition for their outstanding 2025 campaign with a nomination for the Men's Club of the Year award at the upcoming Ballon d'Or ceremony, following a season that saw the Gunners reach only their second Champions League final in history and their first in two decades.
Mikel Arteta's side pushed holders Paris Saint-Germain to the brink in Budapest, drawing 1-1 after extra time before eventually falling 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic showpiece. Despite the heartbreak, the run to the final has now been acknowledged among the sport's most prestigious individual and collective honours.
Arsenal face stiff competition for the award, with PSG themselves among the nominees after a remarkable calendar year under Luis Enrique that yielded six trophies. The Ligue 1 giants secured a fifth consecutive league title, retained their Champions League crown for a second successive year, and added the Trophee des Champions, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup to their collection.
Bayern Munich also feature on the shortlist after completing a domestic treble in Germany under Vincent Kompany. The Bavarian giants cruised to a record 35th Bundesliga title, overcame Stuttgart in the DFB Pokal final, and edged past Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. Their European campaign ended in the semi-finals, where they were beaten in a thrilling contest by eventual champions PSG.
Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt have earned a surprise nomination following a historic year that saw them build on their 2024 Eliteserien title with a memorable maiden Champions League league-phase campaign. The Norwegian club stunned Manchester City and Atletico Madrid before eliminating Inter Milan in the knockout phase play-offs. Domestically, they were crowned Norwegian Cup winners after edging out Brann on penalties following a gripping 3-3 draw in the final.
Completing the list of nominees are Brazilian side Flamengo, who enjoyed a spectacular 2025 across multiple competitions. The Rio de Janeiro club claimed the Brazilian Serie A title and the Campeonato Carioca, while also lifting a fourth Copa Libertadores crown by beating fierce rivals Palmeiras. They further added the Supercopa do Brasil to their trophy cabinet after defeating Botafogo, and reached the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar, where they lost to PSG on penalties.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, with further nominees across other categories, including the main individual prize, set to be revealed throughout the day.
Attention will also turn to the race for the men's Ballon d'Or itself, where Bayern and England striker Harry Kane is currently considered the frontrunner ahead of names such as Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe. Should Arsenal's collective achievements be reflected in the individual conversation, midfielder Declan Rice is expected to be the club's standout contender for personal recognition following their historic European run.
Based on reporting from standard-football.