Dembele Tops Ballon d’Or 2025 Rankings After PSG’s Champions League Glory

France Football To Reveal 2025 Ballon d’Or Nominees in August

France Football has announced that the full list of nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or—both men’s and women’s—will be revealed on August 7, setting the stage for football’s most prestigious individual honour. The build-up will culminate in a star-studded ceremony on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

This year’s edition sticks to the established format, spotlighting both men’s and women’s achievements equally. Alongside the main awards, shortlists will also be released for the Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), Kopa Trophy (best young talent), and the Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer).

As per tradition, a panel of global journalists will handle the voting. For the men’s award, one journalist from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries will submit their rankings, while the top 50 countries will vote for the women’s award. Voters will list their top 10 players, with points assigned based on each position—the player with the most points takes the Ballon d’Or crown.

The competition is wide open, but two names have surged to the front: Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé. Both stars delivered outstanding seasons and are viewed as top contenders to succeed last year’s winner, Rodri, who had a stellar run with Manchester City and the Spanish national team.

They’ll be joined on the shortlist by football elites like Jude Bellingham, Lionel Messi, Vinícius Júnior, and Kylian Mbappé—ensuring a fierce race shaped heavily by Champions League and Euro 2024 performances.

Here’s a snapshot of the current top five in the Ballon d’Or power rankings:

5. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
Stats: 45 goals, 7 assists
Trophies: UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup
Mbappé’s firepower remains elite, but Real Madrid’s poor finish to the season may cost him votes.

4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Stats: 36 goals, 24 assists
Trophies: Premier League
Under new leadership, Salah bounced back to guide Liverpool to a domestic title, although a quiet European campaign weakens his bid.

3. Raphinha (Barcelona)
Stats: 39 goals, 25 assists
Trophies: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa
A standout in Barca’s domestic treble, Raphinha’s consistency could see him rise even higher.

2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Stats: 21 goals, 26 assists
Trophies: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa
At just 17, Yamal has captivated fans with his brilliance. Despite Spain’s Nations League loss, he’s firmly in the mix.

1. Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)
Stats: 35 goals, 15 assists
Trophies: Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions
Dembélé’s defining season saw him shine brightest in PSG’s historic European triumph. He currently leads the Ballon d’Or race.