Ballon d'Or 2024 winner Rodrygo season have ended without the touch of ball on his leg due to an injury season, defending the trophy with injury season is a major crises for him. Who are the next constestant of Ballon d'Or 2025. If you thought the days of the Ballon d'Or generating headlines were over after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's era of dominance came to an end, then think again.
After one of the most closely-fought races for a number of years, Rodri came out on top in 2024, beating Vinicius Jr into second place as Real Madrid dramatically boycotted the ceremony in Paris in protest at their star player missing out.
Image source: Goal.com
What Transpired
Rodri, he will be unable to defend his crown in 2025, with the Manchester City midfielder having suffered a season-ending knee injury in September. The door, then, is open for a whole host of players to succeed the Spain star, and the race for the Golden Ball is heating up as we enter the final weeks of the European campaign.
The 2024-25 season doesn't have the same international tournaments as its two predecessors, and so the destination of the Ballon d'Or will be decided solely by club performances. That opens it up to all sorts of individuals who might not share the same success with their countries as others, while there is also the prospect of the new-look Club World Cup to consider.
So who are the major contending of the Ballon d'Or Power Rankings - check out who is in contention...
The Superior Picture
Image source: Goal.com
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
In 2024-25: Four goals, one assist, 22 clean sheets. Won Premier League.
Though closing in on his 34th birthday, Van Dijk continues to stand out as the best defender in world football, as the Liverpool captain is mostly breezing through games at the very highest level while providing leadership for a Reds side that ran away with the Premier League title.
Disappointing defeats in both the Champions League and Carabao Cup have tainted Liverpool's campaign somewhat, but Van Dijk has still stood out as Europe's outstanding centre-back, and was well deserving of the new two-year contract he signed in April.
Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
In 2024-25: 31 goals, eight assists. Won Carabao Cup.
As Isak embarked on a run of scoring in eight successive Premier League matches around the turn of the year, the Newcastle striker was being hailed as the most complete No.9 in European football, and he certainly has a case for such a title. The Sweden international is seemingly getting better and better at St James' Park, with top clubs from around the continent keen to take him off the Magpies' hands.
Isak will need to maintain his best level right the way through to the end of the campaign to get himself on the Ballon d'Or shortlist as his lack of Champions League football counts against him. Firing Eddie Howe's side to the Carabao Cup has, however, certainly helped his cause, and securing a return to Europe's top table could rubber-stamp his place among the nominees.
Raphinha (Barcelona)
In 2024-25: 35 goals, 23 assists. Won Copa del Rey & Supercopa de Espana.
There were those who argued against it early on, but it's been clear for weeks now that Raphinha is currently the most decisive of Barcelona's electric front-three, and his raw goal and assist numbers certainly help back that up. The ex-Leeds United winger would likely have been sold last summer if Barca had managed to complete a deal to sign Nico Williams, but the Brazilian has shrugged that off to lead the Blaugrana to the cusp of a terrific treble.
There is no doubt that Raphinha is playing the best football of his career right now, and with other challengers seemingly falling by the wayside, he should be considered the Ballon d'Or favourite.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
In 2024-25: 15 goals, 25 assists. Won Copa del Rey & Supercopa de Espana.
No player has won the Ballon d'Or before their 21st birthday in the almost-70 years of the award, but right now it would be a shock if Yamal didn't break that record given he has another three seasons to get there! There is presently no greater talent in the game than the Barcelona teenager, who, as he has shown already in 2024-25, is only going to get better and better.
He is being outscored by two of his team-mates in Catalunya, but plenty of La Liga watchers will tell you that the 17-year-old has been the most impressive attacking player in Spain thus far this campaign. As such, the Kopa Trophy winner might yet be back on stage in Paris in six months' time holding an even bigger award.
Pedri (Barcelona)
In 2024-25: Six goals, eight assists. Won Copa del Rey & Supercopa de Espana.
His goal and assist numbers don't jump off the page, but anyone who has watched Barcelona this season will wax lyrical about the levels that Pedri has been displaying for Hansi Flick's side. Seemingly injury-free for the first time in years, the Spain star is finally returning on the potential he showed as a teenager before fitness issues caught up with him, with many now touting him as the world's best midfielder after his star turn in the Copa del Rey final.
For Pedri to get into the true Ballon d'Or running, he will have to continue translating his La Liga performances into the Champions League, but with Barca now into the semi-finals, there is every chance that he could be the midfield lynchpin who helps lead them to the treble.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
In 2024-25: 36 goals, 24 assists. Won Premier League.\
Speculation over Salah's future has finally
been put to bed after he signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool, and few
can argue that it is not well deserved. 'The Egyptian King' has rediscovered
his best form and then some under new coach Arne Slot, leading the Reds to
secure the Premier League title at a canter.
However, having been the overwhelming
favourite for most of this Ballon d'Or campaign, Salah's hopes were damaged by
Liverpool's shock last-16 elimination in the Champions League, and his own
no-show in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle a few days later. The
32-year-old could still yet become Africa's first Golden Ball winner since
1995, but the odds on him doing so in 2025 have lengthened somewhat.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
In 2024-25: 11 goals, 14 assists.
For a player to miss four months of a
season and still earn a Ballon d'Or nomination, they must be able to put in
truly outstanding displays when they are available. That is exactly what Saka
has managed, as the Arsenal winger has been absolutely electric either side of
the hamstring problem that sidelined him from December through to early April.
With the Gunners through to the Champions
League semi-finals and Saka looking fresh thanks to his time away from the
pitch, he has the potential to be the true difference-maker for the Gunners in
their quest for European glory.
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
In 2024-25: 15 goals, 19 assists.
Olise looked primed for an elite-level club
during his final couple of seasons at Crystal Palace, and the summer signing
has taken to the pressures of playing for Bayern Munich with ease, with the
France international already a key figure in Vincent Kompany's title-chasing
side.
Exiting the Champions League at the
quarter-final stage has lowered his ceiling in terms of his final Ballon d'Or
ranking, but the role Olise has played in likely delivering the Bundesliga
title back to the Allianz Arena shouldn't be overlooked.
Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP)
In 2024-25: 61 goals, 15 assists.
An absolute revelation since arriving in
Lisbon from Coventry City in the summer of 2023, it feels like Gyokeres'
hat-trick to down Manchester City in the Champions League back in October was
his true breakout moment, with the Sweden striker's goal-scoring exploits now
receiving the global headlines they deserve.
Perhaps inevitably, Sporting initially
stumbled after losing manager Ruben Amorim to Manchester United, but have got
themselves back on track and could end the campaign with a league-cup double in
Portugal. Gyokeres has maintained his ridiculous scoring rate throughout, and
if he can reach 70 goals for club and country before the campaign is out, he
should be assured of a Ballon d'Or nomination.
Conclusion
The 2025 Ballon d'Or ranking is here again, the expected and most talented to win, i wished the best of any player who is found worthy to win.
