In a year without a major international tournament, winning the Champions League is surely key to winning the Ballon d’Or. So really, that should be the end of the Real Madrid chat.
Here are the top 10 favourites for the award, according to the bookmakers…
Favourites to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or
10) Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)
Brilliant since his January move from Napoli, helping the French club stay unbeaten in Ligue Un and make the Champions League semi-finals.
9) Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
This is the point when we realise that the Club World Cup is going to be so over-hyped by FIFA that winning that and a domestic title might end up trumping the Champions League. He is scoring shedloads of goals, mind.
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8) Pedri (Barcelona)
“Nobody deserves the Ballon D’Or more than Pedri, everyone knows what kind of a player he is,” says Gavi. But surely if Barcelona win the lot, the gong will go to one of the three stellar attacking players…
7) Vinicius Jnr (Real Madrid)
Thought he was nailed on last year, threw his toys out of the pram. It cannot be ruled out that he is basically handed this title to appease Real Madrid; it would be just about justifiable if they win La Liga and the CWC. Harsh to whoever wins the Champions League, mind.
5=) Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
“Individual trophies count too, like the Ballon d’Or. I know what I have to do to win it, a lot of things on and off the field. When I do everything I need to do to win it, I will win it,” says the Frenchman.
And when he does not do everything he needs to do – and he absolutely hasn’t – then he won’t win it. And Real Madrid will not be able to p*** the bed about this one.
👉 READ MORE:The ridiculous records of Kylian Mbappe:Only seven players have more Champions League goals
5=) Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
He deserves it after his 2020 robbery.
Lewandowski been in electrifying form this season and is having one of the most productive seasons of his career at the grand old age of 36.
4) Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Rodri sees a Ballon d’Or win in the 17-year-old Barcelona star’s future. Seven-f***ing-teen, by the way. The Kopa Trophy winner is already world class.
3) Ousmane Dembele (PSG)
We were waiting for the bookies to notice that Dembele has scored more goals than anybody in 2025 and could do what Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe failed to do: Win the Champions League with PSG.
2) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
There had been a lot of nonsense talk about Salah having the Ballon in the bag, but winning the Premier League was never likely to be enough. Failing to score in two legs v PSG basically ended his chances.
It’s fair to say thatthe PFA award will be easier to claim…
👉 READ MORE:Mo Salah: GOAT Premier League winger and Ballon d’Or contender is Liverpool’s third-top scorer ever
1) Raphinha (Barcelona)
Having a brilliant season for a Barcelona side that could win the Champions League and La Liga. Worth it just to see him going around the auditorium on his knees.
The former Leeds United star’s statistics this season are astonishing, particularly in Europe’s premier competition. He has an absurd 19 goal involvements (12 goals, seven assists) in 12 matches and has also scored an impressive 15 goals in 30 La Liga matches. He is on fire.
