Who will win the Ballon d'Or 2025? Meet the favorites in the race

The 2024-2025 season has entered its decisive stage. Starting this March, all teams across the continent will be fighting for their chances both locally and on a continental scale, while, at the same time, the best players in the world will continue to carve their path towards the Ballon d'Or. The race for the most prestigious individual award is 'heating up', and as of today, these are the 10 footballers with the best chances of winning the prize.

1. 📊 Mohamed Salah - Liverpool

1. Matches played: 39
2. Goals: 30
3. Assists: 22
4. Minutes played: 3,310

So far, the Egyptian is the top candidate in the fight for the trophy awarded by UEFA and France Football. At 32 years old, the forward is experiencing what is arguably the best season of his career, at least on an individual level. The 'Pharaoh' has participated in 52 goals for Liverpool, scoring 30 and providing 22 assists in just 39 matches.

The great present of the 'reds', who are sole leaders in the Premier League and one of the top favorites in the Champions League, cannot be understood without the influence of 'Mo', who, if he maintains this level in the coming months, will not let the award slip away.

2. 📊 Raphinha - FC Barcelona

1. Matches played: 38
2. Goals: 24
3. Assists: 16
4. Minutes played: 3,113

'Rapha' is having his breakout season at FC Barcelona. The Brazilian has established himself as the great sensation of the Catalan team this season, being one of the main contributors to the spectacular present of Hansi Flick's side. The winger has participated in 40 goals for the 'culés', scoring 24 and assisting another 16 in 38 matches, taking on the role of leader in the most in-form team at present.

The blaugranas are top candidates to lift all the titles at stake, and if he doesn't take his 'foot off the gas', the Brazilian '11' could join a prestigious list of players who have received the Ballon d'Or after shining at Spotify Camp Nou.

3. 📊 Robert Lewandowski - FC Barcelona

1. Matches played: 36
2. Goals: 33
3. Assists: 3
4. Minutes played: 2,812

Under Hansi Flick's orders, the Pole is experiencing a second youth in the Catalan city. The blaugrana '9' is the top scorer in LaLiga with 20 goals and in the Champions League with another 9 (tied with Guirassy). In total, he has 33 goals and 3 assists in 36 matches, figures that confirm him as the best striker at the moment. If these goals translate into titles by the end of the season, the player would position himself as one of the top candidates for an award that he was denied in 2020.

4. 📊 Kylian Mbappé - Real Madrid

1. Matches played: 39
2. Goals: 27
3. Assists: 4
4. Minutes played: 3,208

After a difficult start to the season, the Frenchman has finally exploded at Real Madrid. The forward is starting to leave his mark on the big nights, such as his 'hat-trick' against Manchester City in the Champions League, and his performance explains why, despite showing very poor play on the field, the 'merengues' remain alive in all competitions.

The player has 27 goals and 4 assists in 39 matches, placing him behind Lewandowski in the race for the Pichichi and the Golden Boot of the Champions League, and if the whites end up lifting any important title by the end of the season, the Frenchman will have a strong chance of recognition.

5. 📊 Lamine Yamal - FC Barcelona

1. Matches played: 34
2. Goals: 11
3. Assists: 15
4. Minutes played: 2,774

Lamine's season transcends statistics. The forward has accumulated 11 goals and 15 assists in 34 matches, directly participating in 26 of the 120 goals scored by Barça this season. However, his magic, impact, and imbalance have been crucial for the 'culés' to continue dreaming of the treble at this stage of the campaign.

For this reason, if he manages to increase his performance in the coming weeks and the blaugranas lift any title, the star from Mataró would be seriously competing to become the youngest winner in the history of the Ballon d'Or.

6. 📊 Ousmane Dembélé - Paris Saint-Germain

1. Matches played: 32
2. Goals: 25
3. Assists: 5
4. Minutes played: 2,111

His brutal start to the year has put him squarely in the race for the Ballon d'Or. The 'mosquito' has become the standout figure for Paris Saint-Germain in the 'false 9' position, where he has scored 16 goals in all competitions this 2025 and has matched a historic club record by scoring in 8 consecutive matches (shared with Neymar, Bianchi, and Mbappé). The hopes of the Parisians in Ligue 1 and the Champions League rest on the feet of 'Dembouz'.

7. 📊 Jude Bellingham - Real Madrid

1. Matches played: 35
2. Goals: 11
3. Assists: 11
4. Minutes played: 2,860

Like Lamine Yamal, his season cannot be measured in numbers. The Englishman has participated in 22 goals in 35 official matches, scoring decisive goals such as those celebrated against Valencia at Mestalla or against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, and although he had a complicated start to the season, he has been rediscovering his best version over the months. As of today, he is the glue of Real Madrid, whose recent successes are largely due to the midfielder's contributions both in front of goal and in his influence on the team's play.

8. 📊 Vinicius Jr. - Real Madrid

1. Matches played: 35
2. Goals: 17
3. Assists: 12
4. Minutes played: 2,863

The Brazilian started the season like a shot, but his performances have diminished since the beginning of 2025. Injuries, suspensions, and his constant 'outbursts' have led him to lose consistency in his game, and although he remains a key piece for Madrid, his level continues to leave much to be desired. So far, he has accumulated 17 goals and 12 assists in 35 matches, but the 'merengues' are still expecting more from their number 7.

9. 📊 Harry Kane - Bayern Munich

1. Matches played: 33
2. Goals: 29
3. Assists: 10
4. Minutes played: 2,575

In addition to being one of the top candidates for the Golden Boot, the English scorer dreams of recognition as the best footballer in the world, although for that he needs to win titles, something he has yet to achieve in his career.

However, this season Bayern is on track to be crowned champions of the Bundesliga and remain alive in the Champions League, so the drought could come to an end. As of today, the player has participated in 39 goals, scoring 29 and assisting another 10 in 33 matches, but it will be the course of the Munich team's season that will determine his chances in the race for the Ballon d'Or.

10. 📊 Julián Álvarez - Atlético de Madrid

1. Matches played: 39
2. Goals: 21
3. Assists: 5
4. Minutes played: 2,562

In his first season as a colchonero, the Argentine has established himself as the team's star. His 21 goals, several of them very important, and 5 assists in 39 matches across all competitions have earned him a spot among the candidates for the Ballon d'Or. The 'Spider' continues to rise, and his presence is vital for 'Cholo' Simeone's side to aspire to all titles, so if he maintains his current performance, he would position himself as one of the favorites to win the award.