2025 Ballon d’Or: Who Will Claim the Golden Ball?

Introduction

The 2025 Ballon d’Or race is super exciting. For instance, Messi and Ronaldo aren’t leading now. Instead, stars like Dembélé, Yamal, Raphinha, Salah, and Vitinha shine. As a result, the award on September 22, 2025, in Paris will surprise. To start, check our Ballon d’Or guide.

Top Contenders: Who’s Hot?

Let’s check the five top players.

Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)

Dembélé is amazing. For example, he scored 33 goals. He made 15 assists too. PSG won Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Champions League. (Wikipedia) Moreover, his hat-tricks and Liverpool penalty were big. (ESPN.com) However, a Club World Cup loss hurts a bit. Still, he’s number one. Read our PSG season summary.

Strengths: Big games, versatility, treble win.
Weakness: Club World Cup loss.

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

Yamal, only 17, is awesome. Specifically, he scored 18 goals. He had 25 assists. Barcelona won La Liga, Copa del Rey, Super Cup. (Sports Illustrated) For instance, his Espanyol goal won the title. (Give Me Sport) Yet, no Champions League win hurts. Still, he’s a star. See our young stars spotlight.

Strengths: Young talent, creativity, treble.
Weakness: No Champions League.

Raphinha (Barcelona)

Raphinha amazed everyone. In fact, he scored 34 goals. He made 25 assists too. Barcelona won the domestic treble. (The Independent) Also, he tied for Champions League top scorer with 13 goals. (The Independent) However, sharing votes with Yamal hurts. Still, he’s strong. Check our Barcelona attack breakdown.

Strengths: Goals, consistency, big moments.
Weakness: Vote-splitting with Yamal.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Salah led Liverpool to the Premier League. For example, he scored 29 goals. He had 18 assists. He led the league in goals. (Transfermarkt) Moreover, his leadership was huge. But a Champions League exit hurts. (Zonal Sports) Still, he’s in the race. See our Premier League recap.

Strengths: Goals, leadership, league win.
Weakness: No Champions League.

Vitinha (PSG)

Vitinha is a surprise. Specifically, he ran PSG’s midfield. He led Champions League passes. (Transfermarkt) For instance, his 97% passing against Aston Villa was great. (Zonal Sports) However, midfielders rarely win. His six goals are low. Still, he helped the treble. Read our PSG midfield analysis.

Strengths: Midfield control, passing, treble.
Weakness: Few goals.

What Counts Most?

The Ballon d’Or has three rules: performance, team wins, fair play. To begin, Dembélé leads with stats and Champions League. (Wikipedia) Meanwhile, Yamal and Raphinha have a treble but no European win. Similarly, Salah’s league title is great, but Europe hurts. Finally, Vitinha’s passing is cool, but goals win votes. Learn more in our Ballon d’Or rules guide.

What Fans and Experts Think

Fans and experts love this race. For instance, an L’Équipe poll gave Dembélé 40.9%. Yamal got 22%. (The Independent) Also, X posts call Dembélé “awesome” and Yamal a “future star.” (@OneFootball) Moreover, bookmakers pick Dembélé, then Yamal, Raphinha. (Transfermarkt) In contrast, Salah’s odds fell after Europe. Vote in our Ballon d’Or poll.

The Final Pick

In summary, Dembélé leads. His treble and big plays shine. However, Yamal and Raphinha are close. Salah’s league win and Vitinha’s passing keep them in. Ultimately, Champions League gives Dembélé the win. Share your pick in our Ballon d’Or debate at Pulse Sports Hub!