16/05/2025
GBN News
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| GBN News |
The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in football, and numerous legends of the game have received it since its creation in 1956.
Voted for by an international jury of journalists, Manchester City midfielder Rodri won the award last year after a sensational season at the Etihad. But who is on course to become the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner as we enter an era without the dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?
Ranking factors
Performances this season
Honours
Stats
What others have said
2025 Ballon d'Or Power Rankings
Rank Player Age Club Nation
1 Ousmane Dembele 27 PSG France
2 Raphinha 28 Barcelona Brazil
3 Lamine Yamal 17 Barcelona Spain
4 Gianluigi Donnarumma 26 PSG Italy
5 Lautaro Martinez 27 Inter Milan Argentina
6 Mohamed Salah 32 Liverpool EGYPT
7 Pedri 22 Barcelona Spain
8 Vitinha 25 PSG Portugal
9 Harry Kane 31 Bayern Munich England
10 Kylian Mbappe 26 Real Madrid France
11 Alessandro Bastoni 26 Inter Milan Italy
12 Robert Lewandowski 36 Barcelona Poland
13 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 24 PSG Georgia
15 Vinicius Jr 24 Real Madrid Brazil
16 Viktor Gyokeres 26 Sporting CP Sweden
17 Virgil van Dijk 33 Liverpool Netherlands
18 Denzel Dumfries 29 Inter Milan Italy
19 Declan Rice 26 Arsenal England
20 Jude Bellingham 21 Real Madrid England
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Jude Bellingham is starting the countdown, who has been a top performer for Real Madrid once again despite not lifting as much silverware in 2024/25.
The Englishman did pick up winners' medals in the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup and is also into double figures for both goals and assists, but his wait to win the Ballon d’Or could go on.
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The Ballon d’Or rankings can sometimes be influenced by memorable moments, so Declan Rice’s two free-kicks against Real Madrid in the Champions League could see him placed high up the list.
The England midfielder has been a regular under Mikel Arteta, with the Gunners just running out of steam at the end of the campaign. Rice has contributed to 18 goals in all competitions and has arguably been one of Arsenal’s best players once again.
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Denzel Dumfries may have rocketed up the Ballon d'Or rankings based on his Champions League semi-final display against Barcelona alone.
Over the two legs, the attacking wing-back scored two goals and provided three assists in Inter Milan’s 7-6 triumph to book their spot in Munich. In total, Dumfries has impressed in 2024/25, contributing to 16 goals as Inter also look to win the Serie A title.
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One of the best centre-backs in the world over the past eight years since joining Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk, actually didn’t place in the top 30 at last year’s Ballon d’Or.
However, the Dutch defender has helped Liverpool win the Premier League title with his usual dominance at the back, while also chipping in with some goals under Arne Slot.
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One of Europe’s best strikers at this moment in time is Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting CP. After an outstanding first season in Portugal, Gyokeres has backed that up in 2024/25 with more than 50 goals in all competitions.
No player has scored more in Europe, and the Sweden international could round off the campaign by winning both the Liga Portugal and Taca de Portugal.
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After finishing second in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings and not turning up to the event, Vinicius Jr was looking to win the prestigious award in 2025.
However, with Real Madrid set to miss out on the La Liga title and also being knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage, the Ballon d’Or almost certainly won’t be going to a Galactico.
Vinicius Jr has still contributed to more than 35 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions, though, winning the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup.
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Nicolo Barella can do it all in midfield for Inter Milan, and his displays in 2024/25 have been superb, especially in the Champions League with the Serie A side knocking out Bayern Munich and Barcelona en route to the final.
The Italian has been labelled a player ‘capable of blending physicality and finesse, style and substance’ and could find himself back in the top 30 after placing 27th in the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
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Winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made the move to Paris Saint-Germain in January and has gone on to help the French giants win the Ligue 1 title and reach the Champions League final.
The first half of the 2024/25 season saw Kvaratskhelia star for Napoli before his big money move to France, so the Georgia icon could be in line to receive two league winners medals which would surely help him in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
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At the age of 36, Robert Lewandowski has continued to score goals at the highest level, finding the back of the net on 40 occasions in 2024/25.
The Poland international has had some incredible attacking players around him under Hansi Flick and has won the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana. A likely La Liga title is also on the way, however, Lewandowski missed most of Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final with Inter Milan through injury.
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Vitinha placed 27th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, but he should be on course to finish a lot higher 12 months on after a starring season for Paris Saint-Germain.
Winning Ligue 1 and Trophee des Champions so far, the ball-playing midfielder has been key under Luis Enrique and has the chance to add more silverware in the Champions League and Coupe de France finals. Should the French giants win both, Vitinha would have played a huge role in that success.
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| Pedri |
Running the midfield for Barcelona this season has been Pedri, who has remained injury-free under Hansi Flick to help them win the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España.
Called “the best midfielder in the world” by Thiago Alcantara recently, Pedri has controlled numerous games and has missed just one in all competitions in 2024/25, contributing to 14 goals along the way.
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Although Liverpool exited the Champions League stages in the first knockout round after finishing top of the group stage, Mohamed Salah has starred under Arne Slot at Anfield in the Dutchman’s first season in charge.
The Egyptian King has broken a Premier League record for combined goals and assists in a 38-game season, helping the Reds win the title with games to spare. That is all the silverware Salah will pick up, but scoring more than 30 goals and providing more than 20 assists in all competitions places him high up the list.
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Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has been key to his side’s run to the Champions League final and, scoring nine goals in Europe’s elite club competition.
The Argentine’s tally in all competitions is more than 20, with Inter also in a battle for the Serie A title. Should they end up winning both, Martinez could be in with a real chance.
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Arguably the best goalkeeper in the world at this moment in time, Gianluigi Donnarumma has put in some brilliant displays for Paris Saint-Germain, especially in the Champions League.
The Italian started against Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal, and without him, Luis Enrique’s side may not have made it to Munich. If he can help them to European glory, Donnarumma will surely have a great chance of winning the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or for the best goalkeeper in the world.
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It seems just a matter of time until Lamine Yamal wins the Ballon d’Or, however, 2025 could come too soon for the Barcelona star.
Already a European Championship winner with Spain, Yamal has now made 100 career appearances at the highest level at the age of 17, and he’s continued to star in 2024/25.
Triumphs in the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España and contributing to more than 40 goals with Barca have earned Yamal come in for praise from Jorge Mendes, with the super agent feeling the winger deserves the award.
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After leaving Leeds United for Barcelona, Raphinha has gone from strength to strength with the Catalan giants and looks to be in pole position for the Ballon d’Or.
He’s on course to win La Liga with Barca and has already helped win the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España and has starred in Europe with 13 Champions League goals.
However, the semi-final exit to Inter Milan may have put a dent in any hopes of winning the prestigious award.
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Leading the way as the front-runner for the 2025 Ballon d’Or is Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele. The winger is now starting to show the constant quality he first highlighted coming through at Borussia Dortmund, and more importantly, has remained injury-free.
The Frenchman, who has contributed to close to 50 goals in 2024/25, has already won Ligue 1 and the Trophee des Champions, and a Champions League triumph with PSG could see him become the second France star in 26 years to win the award.
Emmanuel Petit has also already said Demeble’s “name is on the Ballon d’Or at the end of the season”.
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