Top footballers 2025: Bayern duo shine ahead of Ballon d’Or gala | OneFootball

Tonight, the football world turns its eyes to Paris: At the festive gala in the Théâtre du Châtelet, a total of 13 awards will be presented—with the Ballon d’Or 2025 at the center of attention. While the winner will only be decided this evening, the CIES Football Observatory has already published its own ranking of the best footballers of the year. With Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich, two Bayern professionals have made it into the top 10.

The CIES ranking is not based on subjective assessments, but on a purely statistical method. The performances of outfield players were evaluated in six areas of play, supplemented by factors such as playing time, the sporting level of the matches, and results.

The result: Barcelona’s super talent Lamine Yamal tops the list ahead of Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) and Pedri (FC Barcelona). Behind Virgil van Dijk (4th), Michael Olise from FC Bayern secures a strong fifth place.

The French attacking player, who has shaped Munich’s offense since his transfer from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024, achieved a score of 96.8 points—just missing out on a spot in the top 3.

Kimmich in Eighth Place

Joshua Kimmich also managed to secure a spot among the top ten. With 95.2 points, the captain of the German national team landed in eighth place. This confirmed his status as a central anchor in the midfield of the German record champions.

Among defenders, Virgil van Dijk stands out as the best center-back, while Achraf Hakimi (PSG) achieved the highest score among full-backs/wingers with ninth place. One of the big favorites for the Ballon d’Or, Ousmane Dembélé, ranks seventh in the CIES ranking.

The age range of the nominees is remarkable: While Luka Modric, Lionel Messi, and Nicolas Otamendi are among the oldest players in the top 100, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, and Desire Douc are among the youngest.

For Bayern, the CIES result is a prestigious success: With Olise and Kimmich, two key players are ranked at the highest international level.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.