Is the real Ousmane Dembele here at last? The French winger is now the favourite player to win the prestigious award this year.
If you believed that the Ballon d’Or’s ability to make headlines was over when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s reign of supremacy ended, you were mistaken. Real Madrid notably boycotted the Paris ceremony in protest of their star player’s exclusion, and Rodri emerged victorious in 2024 after one of the most fiercely contested campaigns in some years, defeating Vinicius Jr. into second place.
Rodri, a midfielder for Manchester City, will regrettably not be able to defend his title in 2025 after suffering a season-ending knee injury in September. As we approach the last weeks of the European campaign, the competition for the Golden Ball is intensifying, and a wide range of players have the opportunity to surpass the Spain star.
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Since the 2024–25 season lacks the international competitions of its two predecessors, club achievements alone will determine whose hands the Ballon d’Or will go to. That makes it accessible to a wide range of people who might not have the same level of success with their nations as others, and there’s also the possibility of the Club World Cup, which has a new look.
2025 Ballon d’Or Power Rankings
- Ousmane Dembele
- Raphina
- Lamine Yamal
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Pedri
- Mohamed Salah
- Harry Kane
- Lautaro Martinez
- Kylian Mbappe
- Robert Lewandowski
Is the real Dembele here at last? The France winger, who is a player of exceptional talent, has irritated supporters more than he has delighted them since leaving Borussia Dortmund for Barcelona. However, in his second season at PSG, Dembele has settled into a routine, and his efforts have allowed the French champions to maintain their grasp on Ligue 1.
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Dembele has scored 35 goals and has provided 12 assists, making it 47 goal contributions across all competitions. PSG has already won Ligue 1 and Trophee des Champions, so it will be safe to say that Dembele will, without a doubt, win the Ballon d’Or if he goes on to lift the UCL trophy this year.
