Ballon d’Or 2025 Power Rankings: Ousmane Dembele vs Lamine Yamal in Golden Ball Race | Top 10 Final Contenders Revealed

The countdown is on for the Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony in Paris, and this year promises one of the closest races in recent memory. With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo no longer in contention, a new generation of stars is battling for football’s most prestigious individual prize — the Golden Ball.

Ballon d’Or 2025 Final Power Rankings

1. Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) – 37 goals, 16 assists; Champions League & Ligue 1 winner.

2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – 21 goals, 26 assists; LaLiga & Copa del Rey winner.

3. Vitinha (PSG) – Midfield maestro of PSG’s treble + Nations League winner.

4. Raphinha (Barcelona) – 39 goals, 25 assists; Barca’s most decisive attacker.

5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 36 goals, 24 assists; led Liverpool to Premier League glory.

6. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) – 46 goals; Super Cup & Intercontinental Cup winner.

7. Achraf Hakimi (PSG) – Key goals in every UCL knockout round; 26 clean sheets.

8. Desire Doué (PSG) – Breakout star; decisive in UCL & domestic finals.

9. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG/Napoli) – Two-title season; Champions League contributor.

10. Nuno Mendes (PSG) – Elite full-back; shut down top wingers, added key goals.

11. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) – 48 goals; finally lifted silverware with Bundesliga win.

12. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – Shone in Club World Cup & Conference League finals.

13. Pedri (Barcelona) – Midfield brilliance; back to full form, led Barca’s treble.

14. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) – 44 goals at 36 years old; treble winner.

15. Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Man City) – UCL heroics; standout goalkeeper.

16. Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting/Arsenal) – 63 goals; Portuguese double + breakout move.

17. João Neves (PSG) – Crucial in midfield; Champions League & Ligue 1 treble.

18. Vinícius Jr (Real Madrid) – Strong early season; fell away late.

19. Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) – 22 goals, 24 assists; creative Bundesliga force.

20. Scott McTominay (Napoli) – Serie A MVP; shock rise to Ballon d’Or nominee.

Ballon d’Or 2025 Power Rankings – Top 10 Finalists

Here’s a look at the top 10 final contenders for Ballon d’Or 2025 based on club and international performances across Champions League, LaLiga, Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1.

1. Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Stats: 37 goals, 16 assists

• Achievements: Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions

• Details: Dembele’s most consistent and explosive season yet. Scored in key knockout ties and delivered assists in the UCL final, making him the strongest candidate for the Golden Ball.

2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

• Stats: 21 goals, 26 assists

• Achievements: LaLiga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España

• Details: At just 18, Yamal lit up Spain and Europe. His dazzling playmaking and maturity beyond his age make him a record-breaking Ballon d’Or contender.

3. Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Stats: 8 goals, 8 assists

• Achievements: Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, UEFA Nations League

• Details: The midfield heartbeat of PSG’s treble-winning side. Controlled games with poise and vision, earning comparisons to Xavi.

4. Raphinha (Barcelona)

• Stats: 39 goals, 25 assists

• Achievements: LaLiga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España

• Details: Barcelona’s most decisive attacker in 2024/25. His goals and assists powered Barca’s domestic treble and kept him firmly in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

• Stats: 36 goals, 24 assists

• Achievements: Premier League champion

• Details: The “Egyptian King” rediscovered peak form under Arne Slot, leading Liverpool to the Premier League title. UCL disappointment dented his chances but still a top candidate.

6. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

• Stats: 46 goals, 7 assists

• Achievements: UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup

• Details: Mbappe’s first Real Madrid season was electric at times, including a hat-trick against Manchester City. Late-season collapses hurt his Ballon d’Or push.

7. Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Stats: 13 goals, 17 assists, 26 clean sheets

• Achievements: Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France

• Details: Dominant at right-back, Hakimi contributed on both ends. Scored key goals in UCL knockouts and proved himself as the world’s best in his position.

8. Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Stats: 16 goals, 16 assists

• Achievements: Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France

• Details: PSG’s teenage revelation. Rose to the occasion in big matches, including man-of-the-match performances in finals.

9. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG/Napoli)

• Stats: 15 goals, 13 assists

• Achievements: Champions League, Ligue 1, Serie A, Coupe de France

• Details: Contributed to title wins in two countries. His flair and decisive goals made him a standout across Europe.

10. Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Stats: 7 goals, 12 assists, 18 clean sheets

• Achievements: Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, UEFA Nations League

• Details: A defensive powerhouse who also contributed in attack. Outshone rivals on the biggest stages, including a dominant Nations League final.

The Ballon d’Or 2025 is shaping up as a thrilling showdown. Ousmane Dembele leads the race after guiding PSG to a historic treble, but Lamine Yamal could rewrite history as the youngest-ever winner. With Salah, Mbappe, Raphinha, and Vitinha also pushing hard, this year’s Golden Ball is wide open until the final announcement in Paris.