The five favorites for the 2025 Ballon d'Or: our intriguing list of winners

The Ballon d'Or was awarded only a few weeks ago, but eyes are already turning to next year's prize.

Rodri won football's highest individual honor in 2024. However, with the Spaniard injured for the season, a new name could feature on the trophy this time around. As we reach the halfway point of the campaign, we've taken a look at the leading contenders to land the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

Ranking of the five favorites for the 2025 Ballon d'Or

Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona (8/1)

Robert Lewandowski's move from Bayern Munich to Barcelona was aimed at giving him a better chance of winning the Ballon d'Or. Controversially dismissed for the canceled 2020 award due to Covid, then again in 2021, he still won The Best FIFA Men's Player award twice in a row, but not the prestigious Ballon d'Or.

At 36, time seemed to be running out on him, but Lewandowski showed few signs of slowing down. He has scored 16 goals in 18 League appearances and a further seven in the Champions League. He is currently fifth favorite, just ahead of teammate Raphinha and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid (6/1)

Kylian Mbappé is another big figure hoping the attention paid to Spanish football can earn him individual praise. The France captain made a splashy move to Real Madrid this summer, after scoring 256 goals in 308 games for Paris Saint-Germain.

However, he has yet to flourish in a Madrid shirt, although he has a good return with 10 goals in 16 League games. However, he has the potential to explode during the second half of the season. Mbappé finished third in the voting for the 2023 prize.

Lamine Yamal – Barcelona (6/1)

Lamine Yamal is looking for a Ballon d'Or success that would make history. This young talent won the Golden Boy and the Kopa Trophy this year, rewarding his status as the most promising nugget under the age of 21. A pillar of Spain's success at Euro 2024, he began the new season as the leader of FC Barcelona's title challenge. Yamal currently leads La Liga in assists with 9 and has scored five times, once again underscoring his status as the most promising player in world football.

Ronaldo Nazario holds the record for the youngest Ballon d'Or winner, having won the title in 1997 at just 21 years old.

Let's remember when a 21-year-old Ronaldo Nazario won the Ballon d'Or

Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid (9/2)

Real Madrid's colossal dissatisfaction with their lack of recognition for the 2024 award has tarnished this year's Ballon d'Or ceremony, with the club believing Vinicius Junior should have been honoured. Cristiano Ronaldo also commented on the subject this week, arguing that it was “unfair” that the Brazilian was left out at the Globe Soccer Awards.

Vinicius, undoubtedly the most decisive player in the Champions League in recent seasons, indeed had a solid record. However, Rodri's claims of theft were inappropriate. Expect to see the 24-year-old in the conversation again this time around, with Vinicius arguably one of the best in the world right now.

Mohamed Salah – Liverpool (9/2)

Mohamed Salah is the co-favorite for the Ballon d'Or after a dazzling start to the season.

He has scored 17 goals and 13 assists in 18 League games for Liverpool, posting at least 10 more contributions than any other player in Europe's big five leagues. It's a remarkable season for the 32-year-old, who is aiming to become the second African footballer to win the Ballon d'Or after George Weah.

Despite his consistent excellence at Liverpool, Salah's best Ballon d'Or finish remains a fifth place in 2019, after Liverpool won the Champions League. With the Reds leading both in England and Europe at the start of the year, he is positioning himself as a serious competitor.

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