Rodri’s season-ending injury means he won’t be defending the trophy he won in 2024 – so who are the main contenders to succeed the Spaniard?
If you thought the days of the Ballon d’Or generating headlines were over after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s era of dominance came to an end, then think again. After one of the most closely-fought races for a number of years, Rodri came out on top in 2024, beating Vinicius Jr into second place as Real Madrid dramatically boycotted the ceremony in Paris in protest at their star player missing out.
Unfortunately for Rodri, he has been unable to defend his crown in 2025, with the Manchester City midfielder having suffered a serious knee injury in September. The door, then, was opened for a whole host of players to succeed the Spain star, and the race for the Golden Ball provided a real rollercoaster over the course of the European campaign and subsequent Club World Cup.
The 2024-25 season didn’t have the same international tournaments as its two predecessors, and so the destination of the Ballon d’Or will be decided solely by club performances. That opened it up to all sorts of individuals who might not share the same success with their countries as others, and the race proved to be one of the most open in recent years.
So, who are the favourites for the most prestigious individual prize in world football? As always, GOAL was there every step of the way to track the contenders and the pretenders with our Ballon d’Or Power Rankings – here’s our final top 20:
20• Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: 23 goals, 21 assists. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France & Trophee des Champions.
Barcola was consistently PSG’s most decisive forward not named Ousmane Dembele over the course of the campaign, but due to him being benched for a number of the key Champions League knockout fixtures, including the final, his achievements aren’t talked about in the same way as his team-mates’.
Over 40 combined goals and assists at club level is, however, a remarkable return for a 22-year-old, and his brace in the Coupe de France final shows he is capable of producing on the biggest stage. A likely Ballon d’Or nomination should be his first of many.
19• Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
In 2024-25: 22 goals, 24 assists. Won Bundesliga.
Eyebrows were raised when Bayern Munich committed €60 million towards buying Olise from Crystal Palace last summer, but any doubts over how he would handle the step up were very quickly put to bed. The France international emerged as the Bavarians’ creator-in-chief while also chipping in with his fair share of goals despite the presence of Harry Kane.
Olise rounded out his campaign with some impressive displays at the Club World Cup, and at 23, he can only get better going forward.
18• Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
In 2024-25: 24 goals, 20 assists. Won UEFA Super Cup & Intercontinental Cup.
Upon confirmation of his surprise second-placed finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Vinicius swore that “the world wasn’t ready” for what he hoped would become his revenge tour. The Brazilian clearly felt that he should have been up on stage with the Golden Ball rather than Rodri, and has attempted to stake his claim ever since.
Certainly, the Real Madrid winger looked in electric form during the first half of the campaign, and there might not be a forward anywhere in world football who can match Vinicius in full flow. However, 2025 has not been a great year for the former Flamengo wonderkid, and an underwhelming Club World Cup campaign means a top-10 finish in the Ballon d’Or voting is unlikely to happen.
17• Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: Seven goals, 10 assists. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions & UEFA Nations League.
One of the signings of the season, Joao Neves landed at PSG after his €60 million (£50.5m/$65m) arrival from Benfica and immediately looked at home at the heart of the Parisiens’ midfield. The archetypal modern No.6, Neves is able to combine the physical side of the game with a classiness in possession that also allows him to contribute in the final third.
It was his goal that completed the vital comeback win against Manchester City that sparked the Parisiens’ triumphant Champions League run, but the 20-year-old’s contribution to the treble win ran much deeper than that, even if his season ended with him seeing red in the Club World Cup final for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair.
16• Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP)
In 2024-25: 63 goals, 16 assists. Won Liga Portugal & Taca de Portugal.
An absolute revelation since arriving in Lisbon from Coventry City in the summer of 2023, it feels like Gyokeres’ hat-trick to down Manchester City in the Champions League back in October was his true breakout moment, with the Sweden striker’s goal-scoring exploits now receiving the global headlines they deserve.
Perhaps inevitably, Sporting initially stumbled after losing manager Ruben Amorim to Manchester United, but got themselves back on track to secure a league-cup double in Portugal. Gyokeres has maintained his ridiculous scoring rate throughout, and though he narrowly missed out on the European Golden Shoe, he should be assured of a Ballon d’Or nomination.
15• Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: 19 clean sheets. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France & Trophee des Champions.
While it has now been 62 years since Lev Yashin became the first, and thus far only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or, there is always a place for the world’s best shot-stoppers on the shortlist of nominees, and Donnarumma separated himself from the pack in 2025 thanks to his outstanding performances in the Champions League knockout rounds.
He was PSG’s penalty-shootout hero at Anfield in the last 16 before pulling off some crucial saves against Aston Villa as the Premier League outfit threatened to come all the way back from being four goals down in the second leg. Donnarumma followed that up with two more superb showings against Arsenal, and while he had little to do in the final, a clean sheet capped a remarkable European campaign.
14• Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
In 2024-25: 44 goals, five assists. Won La Liga, Copa del Rey & Supercopa de Espana.
After Lewandowski missed out on the Ballon d’Or shortlist in 2024, it seemed like the Pole’s long and, thus far, fruitless bid to pick up a Golden Ball was over. However, having been reunited with his former Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick at Barcelona, the 36-year-old rolled back the years to become one of Europe’s most potent No.9s once again.
Age has shown signs of catching up with the veteran at times, while there are undeniably more thrilling players to watch in his own team, never mind among Barca’s rivals, but Lewandowski still set himself up to be back around the Ballon d’Or top 10 with his fine campaign.
13• Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
In 2024-25: 18 goals, 14 assists. Won Club World Cup & Conference League.
It proved to be a season of two halves for Palmer, as he kicked-off the campaign in the same form in which he had finished the previous one while leading Chelsea up to as high as second in the Premier League table. His form, however, took a downturn following the turn of the year, which coincided with the Blues also falling away in the title race before eventually recovering to finish fourth.
Anyone who doubted Palmer, however, was made to eat their words as he produced two sparkling performances in finals to see out the season, first in the Conference League and then at the Club World Cup, where his display against PSG was truly outstanding. A second Ballon d’Or nomination will likely follow after his masterclass at MetLife.
12• Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
In 2024-25: 48 goals, 14 assists. Won Bundesliga.
It finally happened: Harry Kane won a trophy! The England captain yet again showed his goal-scoring instincts remain at a high level despite having turned 31 as he fired Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title, allowing him to celebrate the long-awaited first silverware of his career.
Rodri’s triumph highlighted that goals alone don’t necessarily win players the Ballon d’Or anymore, but Kane certainly has the all-round game that should have caught the voters’ eyes, even after disappointing Champions League and Club World Cup quarter-final exits.
11• Pedri (Barcelona)
In 2024-25: Seven goals, 10 assists. Won La Liga, Copa del Rey & Supercopa de Espana.
His goal and assist numbers don’t jump off the page, but anyone who watched Barcelona this season will wax lyrical about the levels that Pedri displayed for Hansi Flick’s side. Seemingly injury-free for the first time in years, the Spain star finally returned on the potential he showed as a teenager before fitness issues caught up with him, with many now touting him as the world’s best midfielder after his star turn in the Copa del Rey final.
Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final exit has likely put a cap on just how high up the final Ballon d’Or rankings Pedri can now finish, but it would not be a shock if there was a Golden Ball in his future at some stage.
10• Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: Seven goals, 12 assists, 18 clean sheets. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions & UEFA Nations League.
Nuno Mendes’ talent has been evident for a few years now, but the part he played in PSG’s Champions League run seemed to elevate the Portugal international to new heights among fans around the world. The ex-Sporting CP star earned plaudits for the way he shut down Mohamed Salah against Liverpool in the last 16 before scoring goals in both legs of the quarter-final victory over Aston Villa.
He faced another big test in the semis up against Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, but he again rose to the occasion while also playing an important role in the only goal of the first leg for the Parisiens. Perhaps the sternest examination of them all, however, came in the Nations League final against Spain and Lamine Yamal, only for Mendes to dominate their personal battle while scoring once and setting up another.
9• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: 15 goals, 13 assists. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Serie A & Coupe de France.
Kvaratskhelia’s goal and assist numbers don’t quite match the level of his play at times this season, but the Georgia winger contributed towards two different title triumphs, for PSG and Napoli, while playing a key role for the French side en route to them winning the Champions League.
Some electric moments in the European knockouts, most notably his superb goal against Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, will have caught the attention of Ballon d’Or voters, and a second Golden Ball nomination is a certainty now.
8• Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: 13 goals, 17 assists, 26 clean sheets. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France & Trophee des Champions.
Debates over who is the best right-back in world football throw up a whole host of contenders for the crown, but right now it’d be difficult to look past Achraf Hakimi were a World XI being selected. The PSG star has been a consistently high performer for half a decade across his spells at Borussia Dortmund and Inter, and he looks to be getting even better.
Strong defensively while providing a threat in attacking areas, Hakimi scored key goals in each of the Champions League quarter-finals, semi-finals and final for Luis Enrique’s side, meaning the Morocco international should have caught the eye of enough Ballon d’Or voters to earn a place on the shortlist, and perhaps in the top 10.
7• Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: 16 goals, 16 assists. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France & Trophee des Champions.
Doue wasn’t always a guaranteed starter for PSG, but whenever he got on the pitch, he made sure not to waste a minute. That resulted in the summer signing from Rennes enjoying a debut campaign to remember, capped by his performances in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
The teenager was trusted by Luis Enrique to start the majority of the games in the latter stages, and he repaid his manager’s faith and then some by producing one of the great European final performances in Munich. Factor in that he provided two assists the previous week in the Coupe de France final, and Doue is already showing himself to be the man for the big occasion.
6• Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
In 2024-25: 46 goals, seven assists. Won UEFA Super Cup & Intercontinental Cup.
Mbappe may not have enjoyed the start to life at Real Madrid that he or the club’s fans wanted, but he still scored his fair share of goals, and looked to have taken his game to another level after scoring a stunning hat-trick against Manchester City in February that was seen by many as a true announcement of his arrival at Santiago Bernabeu.
However, things began to spin out of control for Madrid in the season’s final weeks, as they surrendered their Champions League crown in meek fashion against Arsenal, lost the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona (despite some Mbappe heroics, it must be said) and the Liga title also headed from the Bernabeu and back to Barca.
It’s no secret that Mbappe craves the Ballon d’Or given its standing in his home country, but he will have to make do with just the European Golden Shoe when it comes to individual accolades this time around.
5• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
In 2024-25: 36 goals, 24 assists. Won Premier League.
Speculation over Salah’s future has finally been put to bed after he signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool, and few can argue that it is not well deserved. ‘The Egyptian King’ has rediscovered his best form and then some under new coach Arne Slot, leading the Reds to secure the Premier League title at a canter.
However, having been the overwhelming favourite for most of this Ballon d’Or campaign, Salah’s hopes were damaged by Liverpool’s shock last-16 elimination in the Champions League, and his own no-show in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle a few days later. The 32-year-old could still yet become Africa’s first Golden Ball winner since 1995, but the odds on him doing so in 2025 have lengthened massively.
4• Raphinha (Barcelona)
In 2024-25: 39 goals, 25 assists. Won La Liga, Copa del Rey & Supercopa de Espana.
There were those who argued against it early on, but it’s been clear for much of the campaign that Raphinha was the most decisive of Barcelona’s electric front-three, and his raw goal and assist numbers certainly help back that up. The ex-Leeds United winger would likely have been sold last summer if Barca had managed to complete a deal to sign Nico Williams, but the Brazilian has shrugged that off to lead the Blaugrana to a domestic treble.
There is no doubt that Raphinha is playing the best football of his career right now – but will that be enough to win him the Ballon d’Or?
3• Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: Eight goals, eight assists. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions & UEFA Nations League.
After being something of a surprise inclusion on last year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, it would now be a shock if Vitinha were to miss out on a place within the top five in 2025 after a masterful campaign in PSG’s midfield.
The ex-Wolves loanee was the beating heart of Luis Enrique’s all-conquering side, and earned Xavi comparisons as the French giants completed their treble by winning the Champions League. He then backed that up with some impressive displays as Portugal won the Nations League in June and during PSG’s run to the Club World Cup final.
2• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
In 2024-25: 21 goals, 26 assists. Won La Liga, Copa del Rey & Supercopa de Espana.
No player has won the Ballon d’Or before their 21st birthday in the almost-70 years of the award, but right now it would be a shock if Yamal didn’t break that record given he has another three seasons to get there! There is presently no greater talent in the game than the Barcelona teenager, who, as he showed 2024-25, is only going to get better and better.
He was outscored by two of his team-mates in Catalunya, but plenty of La Liga watchers will tell you that the 17-year-old has been the most impressive attacking player in Spain. Coupled with his Champions League showings, which reached outrageous new heights against Inter in the semi-finals, he might now be the top Golden Ball candidate within the Barca dressing room.
1• Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: 37 goals, 16 assists. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France & Trophee des Champions.
Was this the season where the real Dembele finally arrived?! Ever since he left Borussia Dortmund for Barcelona, the France winger has frustrated fans more than he’s delighted them, despite clearly being a player of rare ability. Since the turn of the year, though, Dembele found a groove at PSG, as his performances helped the French champions continue their stranglehold of Ligue 1.
Their dreams of finally winning the Champions League also came true thanks, in part, to Dembele’s strikes at Anfield and the Emirates in the knockouts, as well as his two assists in the final. No player has had a more productive 2025 from either an individual or team perspective, and that is why he should now be considered the Ballon d’Or-elect, even after he failed to back up the goals he scored in the Club World Cup quarters and semis in the final itself.
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