The five favourites to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or | OneFootball

The nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or have been revealed with the award set to be announced next month.

A final shortlist of 30 names has been confirmed with a new name certain to be crowned the winner. The Ballon d’Or remains the most prestigious individual award in football, but who are the favourites to take the trophy?

The five favourites to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or

5. Raphinha – Barcelona

Currently fifth favourite, Raphinha placed himself in contention for the award after an incredible renaissance at Barcelona. The Brazilian had been expected to leave the Spanish side last summer, but instead stayed put to produce the season of his career.

Raphinha was named La Liga Player of the Season as Barcelona won a domestic double, while thriving in Europe to end 2024/25 as the Champions League’s top scorer. He ended the campaign with 34 goals and 17 assists in an extraordinary campaign.

4. Mohamed Salah – Liverpool

Mohamed Salah looked the red-hot favourite for the Ballon d’Or at one stage last season, as the Egyptian mounted a record-breaking Premier League campaign. Liverpool’s early exit in Europe could perhaps prove costly, though he’s a strong chance to better his best-ever Ballon d’Or finish of fifth in 2019 and 2022.

Salah inspired Liverpool to Premier League title success in 2024/25, leading the division for both goals and assists. No player across Europe’s top-five leagues was directly involved in more goals (47) than the 33-year-old. He’s aiming to become only the second African Ballon d’Or winner, after George Weah in 1995.

3. Vitinha – Paris Saint-Germain

Vitinha’s season could hardly have gone better. The fulcrum of Europe’s best club side, Vitinha was the heartbeat of Paris Saint-Germain’s treble-winning team.

After dominating Ligue 1 for over a decade, PSG finally conquered Europe with a 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the final. Vitinha followed that success by impressing as Portugal won the Nations League in the summer.

2. Lamine Yamal – Barcelona

Could Lamine Yamal become the youngest-ever winner of the Ballon d’Or?

The Spaniard is three years younger than the current holder of that honour, Ronaldo Nazario, who was 21 when he claimed the prize in 1997.

Yamal is the second favourite for the award after a stunning season in Spain. The teenager led La Liga for assists as Barcelona won a domestic double and produced a series of electric performances on the European stage.

Make no mistake, the 18-year-old is already among the world’s best. He could become the first player in history to win both the Ballon d’Or and Kopa Trophy in the same season.

Remembering when a 21-year-old Ronaldo Nazario won the Ballon d’Or

1. Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele is the frontrunner after leading Paris Saint-Germain to a historic season. Dembele stepped out of Kylian Mbappe’s shadow to become the main man at the Parc des Princes, fulfilling his potential in a new central role.

The Frenchman fired 35 goals in all competitions and delivered at several crucial moments during the campaign. Arguably the best player, in the best club side, in 2024/25.

Full 2025 Ballon d’Or shortlist

Read – Arsenal teenager named on Kopa Trophy shortlist

See more – Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool bosses nominated for 2025 Ballon d’Or awards

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