Rodri became the first Spaniard since 1960 to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Although he is one of the favourites for 2025, Vinicius Jr. was disappointed not to win the prize.
Over the course of the upcoming year, Lamine Yamal might position himself to become the first teen winner.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri was chosen the 2024 winner ahead of Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, seemingly ending the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly over the Ballon d’Or. With Messi and Ronaldo now playing outside of Europe, it seems as though Rodri’s win officially ushers in a new era. The midfielder played a key role in both club and national triumph.
Although the Spaniard is a worthy winner this year, it is highly doubtful that the 28-year-old will be able to successfully defend his title due to an ACL injury he sustained early in the 2024–25 season. This implies that 2025 will bring a new champion to the table, unless there is a miraculous comeback and some outstanding performances.
The coveted individual award used to be determined by a football player’s performance over the course of a year. But this time, for the third time in the award’s history, the votes are determined by the season’s outcomes. In light of this, we have compiled a list of 20 possible 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees and ranked them according to their performance thus far in the run-up to the gala.
Factors that rank
Based on the following, we have established the order:
Scored goals
Helps
Clean sheets (if you’re defensive)
Trophies obtained or faced challenges for (anticipated to)
The 2024–2025 season’s high points General form Ballon d’Or Power Rankings
Rank
The player
Club
Nation
Place
1.
Salah Mohamed
Liverpool
Egypt
Moving forward
2.
Junior Vinicius
Real Madrid
Brazil
Moving forward
3.
Yamal Lamine
Barcelona
Spain
Moving forward
4.
Lewandowski, Robert
Barcelona
Poland
Moving forward
5.
Kane, Harry
The Bayern Munich
England
Moving forward
6.
Raphinha
Barcelona
Brazil
Moving forward
7.
Haaland, Erling
City of Manchester
Norway
Moving forward
8.
Mbappe Kylian
Real Madrid
France
Moving forward
9.
Bellingham, Jude
Real Madrid
England
The midfield
10.
Van Dijk, Virgil
Liverpool
The Netherlands
Protector
11.
Palmer, Cole
Chelsea
England
Moving forward
12.
Musiala Jamal
The Bayern Munich
Germany
A midfielder
13.
Wirtz, Florian
Leverkusen Bayer
Germany
Moving forward
14.
Griezmann, Antoine
Real Madrid
France
Moving forward
15.
Gavi
Barcelona
Spain
A midfielder
16.
Pedri
Barcelona
Spain
A midfielder
17.
Saka Bukayo
The Arsenal
England
Moving forward
18.
Isak, Alexander
Newcastle
Sweden
Moving forward
19.
Martinez, Lautaro
Milan Inter
Argentina
Moving forward
20.
Gyokeres, Viktor
Lisbon Sporting
Sweden
Moving forward
10Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool & Netherlands
Given that Liverpool’s outstanding start under Arne Slot appeared to be the result of a strong defence put together by the Dutchman, Virgil van Dijk might have been much higher on this list if it weren’t for another player who took centre stage. Liverpool is currently leading both the Premier League and the Champions League. However, there will be more on him later because the Reds’ enormous captain is deserving of his own kudos.
Van Dijk, who finished second in the 2019 tournament after infamously going a complete season without being dribbled past, is beginning to look like he’s getting back to his best this season. Slot can always count on the captain to make up the numbers at the back, even though his teammates have been a little slow lately. In fact, he trusted him to play as a lone centre-back for the last few minutes of their most recent trip to Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in 2024–2025
Games
32
Objectives
3.
Helps
One
9Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid & England
When Jude Bellingham announced that he was leaving Borussia Dortmund for the Spanish top flight, few supporters anticipated the impact he would have on Real Madrid’s goals. However, the lanky midfielder, an England international with 40 caps, scored an impressive 23 goals and added 13 assists in all competitions.
The Stourbridge-born star has been equally important from a deeper position, now managing the Madrid-based engine room alongside players like Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, even though his goal contributions for Carlo Ancelotti and company have somewhat decreased in the new campaign.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham in 2024–2025
Games
30
Objectives
10.
Helps
10.
8Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid & France
It seems certain that Kylian Mbappe will take the renowned golden ball from the top of the podium at some point in his career. Despite being hailed as Messi and Ronaldo’s heir, the French forward, who is currently in his mid-twenties, has yet to fulfil his destiny.
He has a better chance at Real Madrid than he did at Paris Saint-Germain, even though they say they feel mistreated by France Football. The only problems at the moment are that he is not the only superstar in the Spanish capital vying for the prize and that, in contrast to one of his contemporaries, he has not yet made an exceptionally strong start to life at his new club.
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in 2024–2025
Games
33
Objectives
21
Helps
3.
7Erling Haaland
Manchester City & Norway
Even though he won the Premier League Golden Boot, Erling Haaland’s subsequent season may have seemed a touch lacklustre by the standards he established in his debut season at Manchester City. But this season he came out blazing, and few players got off to as strong a start as he did.
The former Borussia Dortmund player is on a quest to defeat the aforementioned Mbappe in their battle to become the first of the two to win the Ballon d’Or after quickly reaching double digits domestically. Haaland is presently in the lead because of his opponent’s poor start in Madrid, but he has also experienced his share of difficulties this season.
For Manchester City in 2024–2025, Erling Haaland
Games
33
Objectives
25
Helps
2.
6Raphinha
Barcelona & Brazil
Raphinha, who was once the face of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United, has started to quiet his detractors by using a combination of skill and firepower that is too much for defenders in the top division of Spain. When one of the biggest teams in the world, Barcelona, paid for the Brazilian, eyebrows were undoubtedly raised.
But with 27-year-old Raphinha racking up great stats in the early months of 2024–2025 (23 goals and 15 assists in 34 games), Hansi Flick and his team have had the last laugh. It’s still unclear if his strength in the closing third can be sustained, but if Blaugrana adds more trophies to their collection, who can argue against it?
Real Madrid’s Raphinha in 2024–2025
Games
34
Objectives
23
Helps
15.
5.
5Harry Kane
Bayern Munich & England
After his disappointments with England and Bayern Munich over the past 12 months, Harry Kane is trophy-hungry and will be motivated by silverware this season. Even while it might be his main objective, his contribution to its accomplishment could get him a lot of praise on his own.
The game is all about goals, and Kane is an expert at scoring them. There could be no stopping England’s best forward ever if he can continue his early excellent form and bring home trophies, possibly even a European one, to Allianz.
Harry Kane in 2024–2025 for Bayern Munich
Games
28
Objectives
28
Helps
10.
4Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona & Poland
Since the typically talismanic goalscorer was not performing to the level that supporters had been accustomed to, there were concerns that Robert Lewandowski was starting a gradual decline last season. Time eventually catches up with everyone, and the former Bayern Munich player seemed to be no exception.
But since Hansi Flick joined the Nou Camp, the striker has been rejuvenated and is scoring goals like he’s in his prime once more. The Polish frontman may be seeking retribution as he attempts to win the Ballon d’Or award that was denied to him in 2020.
Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski in 2024–2025
Games
32
Objectives
30
Helps
3.
3Lamine Yamal
Barcelona & Spain
Indeed, there has never been a young winner of the Ballon d’Or before, and Lamine Yamal still has a few more years to accomplish this. All bets are off on whether he can actually succeed if he keeps up his amazing upward trajectory.
Yamal exemplifies the adage “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough” because he has already put one of the biggest clubs in Europe on his back since he was 15 and helped lead his nation to a European Championship at 16. Although he has already smashed a number of records, might this be his best? He currently has every reason to think he can succeed. According to his manager Hansi Flick, there is currently just one greater player in the world of football.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal in 2024–2025
Games
30
Objectives
11.
Helps
14
2Vinicius Junior
Real Madrid & Brazil
Vinicius Jr. could have to wait another year to become the first Brazilian since Kaka to win the coveted trophy after he declined to attend the 2024 Ballon d’Or presentation after learning he wouldn’t be the winner. Understandingably, the winger was taken aback by the fact that he lost the last time around. He had been the favourite even on the day of the gala, after all.
Though it wasn’t intended for Vinicius, he might very well be among the front-runners in a year if he can run another campaign that is comparable to or better than what he has done in the previous two years. He has scored 16 goals and provided 10 assists in a chaotic Los Blancos team as of this writing.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior in 2024–2025
Games
28
Objectives
16
Helps
10.
1Mohamed Salah
Liverpool & Egypt
Mohamed Salah has contributed 34 goals in his first 23 Premier League appearances, which sums up his influence at Liverpool since moving to Anfield. The Egyptian King is still among the top players in the Premier League, even if he is nearing the end of his career and is working under a new manager for the first time since moving to Merseyside.
As he ages, he actually appears to be improving. History has demonstrated that when it comes to determining who receives particular awards, statistical data is becoming increasingly significant. Salah is therefore always a possibility when he is playing at his best, particularly if Liverpool wins the Premier League and/or Champions League at Slot’s first attempt.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in 2024–2025
Games
34
Objectives
26
Helps
18
