
The football world was set alight on August 7th as the nominees for the prestigious Ballon d’Or were officially revealed. The award was once firmly held on lockdown by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with the all-time great duo claiming the famous golden trophy 13 times between them between 2008 and 2023. Now, however, a new dawn is upon us, and new contenders have risen.
This year’s shortlist features a fascinating mix of seasoned superstars and breakout sensations. Scotland’s Scott McTominay is perhaps a surprise nominee after revitalizing his career in Italy, winning the Serie A MVP award, having led Napoli to the Scudetto. Kylian Mbappe is also nominated, having finished as Europe’s top goalscorer in his maiden campaign at Real Madrid. However, neither of them is expected to win the award, despite their stellar campaigns.
While the announcement celebrates football’s abundant talent pool, the race for the award is anything but broad. There’s a clear frontrunner—Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé, whose scintillating 2024/25 campaign has positioned him as the odds-on favorite. However, with exciting fellow athletes chasing him for the crown, let’s take a look at the leading contenders to win the Ballon d’Or.
Ousmane Dembélé
At 28, Ousmane Dembélé has finally fulfilled the immense potential he displayed eight years ago, potential that prompted Barcelona to part with an almighty €145m to secure his services. Now back in his homeland with Paris Saint-Germain, the Frenchman delivered a campaign that will be etched in football folklore, playing a pivotal role in his team’s treble-winning season. Across 53 matches, the former Dortmund man registered a jaw-dropping 35 goals and 16 assists, becoming his side’s talisman in their greatest-ever season.
The pinnacle came in the UEFA Champions League final, where PSG dismantled Inter Milan 5-0 in a record-breaking performance that underlined Dembélé’s influence. Now, while online sportsbooks make the pacey attacker the favorite to be named the best player on the planet, they also make his team the favorites to reign over Europe once again next term. The latest odds from the popular Bovada online sportsbook currently make the Parisians a 5/1 frontrunner to successfully defend their crown.
Time and again, Dembele delivered on the biggest stages last season, using his relentless drive to inspire a team that finally conquered Europe for the first time in its history. Pundits consider him the clear favorite for his ability to transform PSG’s potential into tangible triumphs, something that the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and even the great Lionel Messi were unable to do. It’s hard to argue when you consider the hardware—Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and the all-important Champions League trophy are all now part of PSG’s collection, largely thanks to Dembélé’s season of a lifetime.
Lamine Yamal
If one career is just peaking, another is only beginning. Barcelona’s 18-year-old sensation, Lamine Yamal, has fast-tracked his way from promising talent to pivotal player. His 2024/25 numbers read like a player at the top of his game—18 goals, 25 assists, and a clean sweep of domestic trophies. But the scary thing is, the teenage Spanish superstar is only going to get better.
Yamal played an integral role in Barcelona’s domestic treble last term, combining flair, intelligence, and clinical precision alongside Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in a devastating front three. Of particular note was his ability to shine against age-old rivals Real Madrid. Across four matches against Los Blancos, Barcelona emerged unbeaten, winning all four largely due to Yamal’s dynamic brilliance. Admittedly, Barca’s Champions League semifinal loss to Inter Milan was a bitter pill to swallow, but their wonderkid’s trajectory remains sky-high.
Vitinha
While Dembélé and Yamal dazzled up top, Vitinha held down the fort in midfield. The former FC Porto man has long been considered one of the most technically gifted players in Europe, but he is finally getting his flowers after his meteoric campaign with PSG. The Portuguese playmaker dictated the tempo for the Parisians all year long, tearing open opposition defences time and again for teammates Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Désiré Doué to thrive time and again.
The 25-year-old featured in a whopping 59 games last term, including starting all but one of his side’s 17 successful games in the Champions League. But Vitinha’s brilliance wasn’t just confined to club level. He also shone for Portugal as he helped the Selecao surprisingly win the UEFA Nations League for the second time, overcoming fellow Ballon d’Or contender Yamal and his young Spanish side in the process. After a stunning year, he could well become the second straight midfielder to win the award after Manchester City’s Rodri triumphed last year.
Mohamed Salah
It takes a special kind of player to remain at the top of global football for years, and Mohamed Salah exemplifies just that. Liverpool’s talisman was back to his devastating best in 2024/25, bagging a whopping 34 goals and 23 assists in his best campaign since his first season at Anfield seven years ago.
His goals were crucial to The Reds’ Premier League title triumph – their second in five years – with their Egyptian King beating the prolific Erling Haaland to the Golden Boot award. His exploits saw him secure a new two-year deal at Anfield despite now being well into his thirties, and capping a stellar career with a maiden Ballon d’Or would be a fitting achievement.