Top 10 Ballon d’Or contenders: Yamal leads Dembele, Mbappe, Salah drop as Kvicha rises
- Lamine Yamal has emerged as a top contender to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or ahead of official shortlist announcement on August 7
- Many Ligue 1 fans tip Paris Saint-Germain star forwad Ousmane Dembele to win the top prize
- Georgian icon Kvaratskhelia have also broken into the Ballon d'Or conversation after is excellent debut season at PSG
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The race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or has taken a dramatic turn, with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal now a leading contender ahead of Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain.
The French champions dispatched Inter Milan 5-0 on Saturday, May 31 at the Allianz Arena to clinch their first-ever Champions League trophy while completing an incredible treble.
Source: Getty Images
Now that the Ballon d'Or shortlist is set to be annnounced on Thursday, August 7, YEN.com.gh takes a look at the main contenders for the 2025 Ballon d'Or.
Who are the 2025 Ballon d'Or favourites?
1. Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
Yamal 2024/25 stats: 18 goals, 25 assists
At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal is rewriting the script for young talents in European football.
With his dazzling dribbling, intelligence, and maturity beyond his years, the Spanish teenager, winner of Euro 2024, has become a key player at Barcelona, signing a new deal recently, per FC Barcelona website.
His top displays propel him into the top tier of the Ballon d’Or race, potentially making him the youngest ever winner.
2. Ousmane Dembélé – Paris Saint-Germain
Dembele 2024/25 season stats: 34 goals, 15 assists
Ousmane Dembélé’s resurgence at PSG has been nothing short of remarkable, with the Frenchman playing a crucial role in their treble-winning campaign.
No more the much-maligned player at Barcelona, we saw the finest version of prime Ousmane Dembele in 2024/25.
Source: Getty Images
The ex-Dortmund man deserves the 2025 Ballon d'Or thanks to his consistency this season, glittering in an unfamiliar false 9 role.
His influence on PSG’s attacking identity this season cannot be overstated, finishing the 2024/25 UCL with 8 goals and 6 assists, per Transfermarkt.
3. Raphinha – Barcelona
Raphinha 2024/25 season stats: 34 goals, 25 assists
People might mention Lamine Yamal next, but Raphinha enjoyed a breakout campaign that has him at the forefront of the Ballon d'Or conversation.
Though Barca were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals, Raphinha emerges as the clear frontrunner due to his impact and amazing stats.
4. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - PSG
Kvicha 2024/25 stats: 12 goals, 9 assists
Who thought Kvaratskhelia would win the Serie A twice and the Champions League, all within the short period of two years? That is the wonderful feat the ex-Napoli winger just obtained.
The Georgia international picked up two league titles in the 2024/25 season, a Serie A with Napoli and Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain.
The talented playmaker takes up a high position on this rankings thanks to his impactful contributions to the league winners of Italy and France in 2024/25.
5. Gianluigi Donnarumma - PSG
Donnarumma 2024/25 stats: 12 clean sheets in 40 games
The last goalkeeper to secure the Ballon d'Or dates back to 1963 when the great Lev Yashin dominated outfiled players Gianni Riviera and Jimmy Greaves.
Donnarumma may not replicate this achievement because history isn’t on his side, but the towering Italian goalkeeper played just as vital a role in PSG’s remarkable Champions League triumph as players like Dembélé.
His superb saves against Arsenal in the semi-finals proved pivotal for Luis Enrique's side who went on to outclass Simone Inzaghi's side in Munich.
6. Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid
Mbappe 2024/25 stats: 42 goals, 4 assists
Mbappé's numbers remain elite, but the failure win major trophies with Real Madrid is a massive blow.
The Ballon d'Or often favours players whose club success aligns with their individual brilliance, with organizers of the award recently reiterating that criteria.
Kylian Mbappé finds himself outside the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or this year despite his prolific season.
7. Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
Salah 2024/25 stats: 32 goals, 23 assists
Salah racked up impressive numbers in 2024/24 to win a second Premier League with Liverpool, but the prospect of him becoming the first African to win the Ballon d'or since George Weah remains minute.
Liverpool exited the Champions League earlier than expected, with Mohamed Salah failing to shine when it mattered most.
8. Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona
Lewandowski 2024/25 stats: 42 goals, 3 assists
The Polish striker may be in the twilight of his career, but he's still delivering elite numbers and performances.
Lewandowski was a key figure in Barcelona’s La Liga success as well as their Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup victories.
Even though the former Bayern Munich striker is not among the major challengers, he picks up a place in the top 10 list.
9. Achraf Hakimi - PSG
Hakimi stats 2024/25: 9 goals and 14 assists
Let’s face it, defenders, especially right-backs, hardly win the Ballon d’Or. But what more could you possibly ask from the Moroccan international who just matched Abedi Pele's long-standing record.
He’s just completed a treble, delivered rock-solid defensive performances, and scored in the Champions League quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.
Right now, there’s no debate: he’s the best right-back in the world, and he proved it in lots of key games this season.
10. Pedri - Barcelona
Pedri 2024/25 stats: 6 goals and 8 assists
When Raphinha said that the most key Barcelona player this season is not Lamine Yamal or Robert Lewandowski but Pedri, he did not hype the Spanish midfielder.
Though the offensive players scored the goals, but the Brazilian emphasized the crucial role Pedri plays in Hansi Flick's setup even before the ball gets to the attackers.
Better known for his key passes and authority on the ball, Pedri might not have a strong case to succeed fellow Spaniard, Rodri, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2024.
Mbappe's reaction to PSG's Champions League win
YEN.com.gh earlier reported Kylian Mbappe's congratulatory message to former side Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.
PSG produced a historic performance to smash Inter Milan 5-0 in the 2025 Cahmpions League final that was epected to be keenly contested.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
