As the 2025 Ballon d’Or race heats up, standout performances across the past 12 months have shaped our latest power rankings.

Due to the absence of international tournaments, the destination of the Ballon d'Or will be decided almost solely by club performances.

The FIFA Club World Cup further solidified the chances of Ousmane Dembele and brought in names like Vitinha and Nuno Mendes after stellar seasons. Lamine Yamal remains a big contender after winning the domestic treble with Barcelona, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has an outside chance.

Here’s a look at the top 5 contenders vying for the prestigious award.

5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 36 goals, 24 assists. Premier League winner. Salah rediscovered his peak form under Arne Slot, clinching the title. A Champions League exit and no-show in the Carabao Cup final dimmed his Golden Ball odds, though he’s Africa’s best hope since 1995.

4. Raphinha (Barcelona) 39 goals, 25 assists. La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España. Raphinha led Barcelona’s treble-winning attack, outshining doubters. His career-best form falls short of Ballon d’Or glory.

3. Vitinha (PSG) 8 goals, 8 assists. Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Nations League. The midfield maestro drove PSG’s treble and Portugal’s triumph, cementing his top-five status.

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) 21 goals, 26 assists. La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa. At 18, Yamal’s brilliance—especially against Inter—makes him a record-breaking Ballon d’Or favorite.

Ousmane Dembele (PSG) 37 goals, 16 assists. Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France. Dembele’s knockout heroics, including the final and treble success, mark him as the 2025 Ballon d’Or frontrunner.

The 69th awarding of the Ballon d'Or, considered the most prestigious individual award in world football, will take place on Monday, 22 September 2025 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.